Ecuador Gang Members Arrested After Trying to Take Over Hospital

Authorities in Ecuador apprehended 68 gang members who stormed a hospital in Yaguachi, Guayas province, per BBC.

The intruders attempted to take control of the facility, where a fellow gang member was undergoing treatment. Their motive, as revealed by police, was to safeguard the patient from potential threats posed by rival gangs.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, but the identity of the injured man and the specific Ecuador gang involved remain unclear.

Police Intervention and Seizures

Law enforcement swiftly intervened to neutralize the situation.

"We neutralized alleged terrorists who were trying to take over the facilities of a hospital in Yaguachi, Guayas," police announced on X.

During the operation, firearms and drugs were seized, highlighting the gravity of the situation, according to France 24.

Additionally, authorities raided a purported "rehabilitation center," which concealed a gang command center and brothel. Several alleged Ecuador gang members were discovered hiding in this location.

Ecuador, with a population of 17 million, faces around 20 criminal groups, boasting a membership believed to exceed 20,000.

Ecuador hospital incidents involving gang members have occurred in the past.

Seven gunmen were apprehended after storming a hospital in Chone, seeking a rival gang member in intensive care in 2022. The standoff led to nurses and Ecuador hospital staff being taken hostage as the individuals exchanged gunfire with the police.

Ecuador's Escalating Security Crisis

Ecuador's security crisis has been escalating, with recent events contributing to the turmoil.

The prison escape of Los Choneros drug gang leader Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, also known as "Fito," on January 7 triggered a series of prison riots and unrest across correctional facilities, TASS noted.

The armed forces and police have detained over 2,000 individuals, recovering a substantial number of firearms, bombs, and narcotics.

In response to the unrest, President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of public emergency and imposed a curfew.

Drug cartels reacted swiftly to the government's actions, threatening civilians and security forces and taking hostages, including journalists and TV station staff, during a live broadcast.

Soldiers were deployed to assist the police in quelling violence that had spread from prisons to major cities.

The situation remains tense, with gangs intensifying their attacks.

As the crisis unfolded, violence escalated, culminating in the tragic shooting death of prosecutor César Suárez. Suárez was investigating the TV station attack and the escapee Fito's family members.

Fito's family, detained in Argentina, were returned to Ecuador.

President Noboa acknowledged that his country has become a logistical hub in the drug trafficking chain, leading to heightened security concerns, MercoPress reports.

In response to the deepening crisis, White House Advisor Christopher Dodd, along with Southern Command Chief General Laura Richardson and Bureau of Counternarcotics Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Landberg, are set to visit Ecuador.

Their aim is to "listen and consider options for accelerating bilateral security cooperation" between the two countries, according to a statement from the US embassy in Ecuador.

Since the declaration of an "internal armed conflict," Ecuador has seen a significant number of arrests, including 158 individuals remanded on terrorism charges.

Law enforcement seized a substantial cache of weapons, including firearms, bladed weapons, explosives, and ammunition.

READ MORE: History of Ecuador Tradition, Inti Raymi

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: 68 people detained in Ecuador over hospital takeover attempt | #AJshorts - From Al Jazeera English