The authorities in Ecuador reported a fatal incident in El Triunfo, a town in Guayas province, on Thursday. Initial findings indicate at least five people lost their lives and several others were wounded in clashes tied to organized crime. Among the injured was Júnior Roldán, widely known as JR, who heads the Los Choneros gang. Local media noted that Roldán had just finished a period in custody a month prior, and some of those hurt appear to have been members of his security detail who were providing protection during the tumultuous events.
In a statement, Ecuador’s Interior Minister, Juan Zapata, confirmed that police officers were deployed in El Triunfo to protect residents and to carry out investigative work aimed at identifying and detaining those responsible for the violence among rival criminal groups. He stressed that authorities are actively working to restore order and safety to the community.
Separately, the National Comprehensive Care Service for Adults and Adolescent Offenders Deprived of Freedom (SNAI) announced the activation of security protocols across all prisons in response to the heightened tension, with the aim of safeguarding inmates and maintaining public peace during this period of unrest.
Júnior Roldán, a prominent figure in organized crime
Roldán has been described as a key leader within the Los Choneros gang. He was detained shortly after his initial release in December 2022 and underwent a second release on February 14 after a habeas corpus petition. Reports indicate that General Fausto Salinas, who leads the National Police, cautioned that his release could intensify the power struggle among criminal factions in the region and potentially destabilize security dynamics in the wider area.
President Guillermo Lasso weighed in on the matter, voicing concern about the implications of the release. He suggested that the decision to grant freedom under a habeas corpus could be viewed as a concession to a dangerous criminal figure, a move that provoked public anxiety and raised critical questions about public safety and the effectiveness of the justice system.