Less than two months into his tenure, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced an extraordinary shift in the country’s security policy. Two dramatic events had converged to push him toward a temporary, comprehensive intervention: the escape of the nation’s most powerful drug trafficker, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as Fito, leader of the Los Choneros, and a wave of riots across at least six prisons where guards were detained and beds set ablaze. In Cuenca, at the Turi center, prisoners reached the rooftops, damaged surveillance cameras, and demanded not to be moved to another facility. Video footage from various centers showed the same pattern, with guards issuing messages as hooded inmates displayed improvised weapons.
Speaking to the public, Noboa asserted that negotiations with violent groups would not be tolerated. He cited actions his predecessor had sometimes authorized, allowing military involvement to assist the police in restoring internal security within the prisons. The president confirmed that he had just signed an emergency decree to grant the Armed Forces political and legal support for their role in stabilizing the situation. He stressed that narcoterrorist organizations were intentionally intimidating the population and attempting to coerce government actions. Clear orders were issued to military and police commanders to step in and take control of the prisons.
Curfew and military mobilization
The declared state of emergency, valid for 60 days, grants Noboa the authority to deploy the army on the streets and into facilities, responding to what officials described as serious unrest. Civil liberties could be restricted under the measure, and a curfew was imposed locally from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., extending overnight to six hours of curfew in some regions. The time window cited for the curfew was 23:00 to 05:00 local time, with a note that corresponding GMT times would be 04:00 to 10:00.
The news of Fito’s escape caused a shock at the Carondelet Palace. Government Communications Minister Roberto Izurieta indicated on Teleamazonas that infiltrations were likely in connection with a planned security operation at the prison and suggested that Fito had escaped hours earlier. The government also filed criminal charges against two prison officials thought to be connected to the escape. Los Choneros, Ecuador’s most feared gang, has long battled other factions over drug trafficking routes potentially linked to cartels in Mexico and Colombia. Noboa’s election promises centered on sweeping policy changes aimed at reducing violence, and the Los Choneros are seen as a core operational arm for drug networks in the country. In addition to drug trafficking, the group has been involved in robbery, extortion, and violent crime.
The crisis is reflected in alarming statistics: violent deaths have surged to about 40 per 100,000 residents overall, and in the Nueva Prosperina district of southern Guayaquil, a hotspot for gang activity, the rate climbs to roughly 114 per 100,000. This region has been cited as one of the most violent in the world.
The president did not spare critics, urging the opposition to recognize the gravity of the moment and insisting that public policy must serve all citizens rather than political ambitions. In his view, the security challenge required decisive actions beyond partisan calculations, with the nation awaiting effective, security-focused leadership.