2024 Ecuadorian conflict

2024 Ecuadorian conflict
Part of the Ecuadorian security crisis and the War on drugs in Ecuador
Ecuadorian military on 13 January
Date 9 January 2024 – present (3 months, 2 weeks and 2 days) Location Ecuador Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Government of Ecuador	Organized crime groups, notably Los Choneros
Commanders and leaders
Daniel Noboa Jaime Vela Erazo	José Adolfo Macías Villamar Fabricio Colón Pico
Units involved
National Police Armed Forces Army Air Force Armed civilians	Several organisations Águilas ÁguilasKiller Ak47 Caballeros Oscuros Chone Killer Covicheros Cuartel de las Feas Cubanos Fatales Gánster Kater Piler Lagartos Latin Kings Lobos Los Choneros El Grupete Los Tiburones Mafia 18 Mafia Trébol Patrones R7 Tiguerones
Casualties and losses
2 police officers killed 4 police officers kidnapped	5 killed more than 1,400 suspects detained
8 civilians killed

On 9 January 2024, an armed conflict broke out in Ecuador surrounding the country's government against several organized crime groups and drug traffickers. Several people have been killed in armed attacks while reports of businesses and vehicles being vandalized and burned have been reported. Several police officers and prison guards were also kidnapped.

Attacks

On 9 January 2024, organized crime groups in Ecuador issued threats of "war", prompting the country's president to declare a state of armed internal conflict. On the same day, gunmen entered a television studio in Guayaquil, where they took journalists hostage during a live newscast.

Reports of armed attacks throughout Guayaquil were reported, mainly in prisons, markets, roads, and universities. The large-scale attacks were a combination of responses to the escape of Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar in Guayaquil, and President Daniel Noboa declaring a state of emergency and then an internal state of war.

Explosions were also reported across the country, particularly in Guayaquil, Cuenca, Machala, and Loja, as well as in Esmeraldas and Los Rios Provinces.

Banks, markets, and shops were closed throughout the country in cities such as Quito and Guayaquil to protect merchants and customers from armed attacks.

On 11 January, two people were killed and nine others were injured in an arson attack on a nightclub in Coca.

On 13 January, the government announced that all 178 prison guards and other employees held hostage in prisons across the country since that start of the unrest by the gangs had been freed.

Response

President Daniel Noboa said that the country was having an "internal armed conflict" and ordered the military to carry out operations to stop armed groups.

Background

Since 2018, Ecuador has seen an increase in wave of violence as the country has become a critical cocaine transit point, and organized crime groups compete for control of drug routes and prisons. Hundreds of prison inmates have been killed in prison fights.

According to The Washington Post, intelligence analysts said that the attacks may have been caused by a recent investigation into links between drug traffickers, criminal gangs, and political operators. The operation, known as Metastasis, led to the arrests of at least 20 top security officials and judges in December 2023.