Four police officers kidnapped, explosions rock cities as gang leader escapes prison; gangs declare war on nation

GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR— Four police officers have been captured and several explosions reported throughout the South American nation of Ecuador as the prison escape of Jose Adolfo Macias, who leads the Los Choneros criminal organization appears to have tipped the nation into a bloody civil war.

As reported by Fox News, Ecuador’s prosecutor's office has announced charges against to correction officers following the disappearance of Macias, the nation's "most-wanted prisoner" from a prison complex in the city of Guayaquil. The outlet reported that three officers were abducted from their own station in the city of Machala while a fourth was kidnapped by three criminals in the nation's capital Quito.

A pedestrian bridge was also bombed in the city but no injuries were reported according to Reuters.

President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency Monday resulting in the mobilization of the military and permitting the government to suspend civil rights. "Our specialized units are active with the goal of locating our colleagues and proceeding with the capture of the perpetrators," police officials said, per Reuters. "These acts will not remain in impunity." 

Collin Rugg of Trending Politics shared video to X as armed gangs have reportedly stormed University of Guayaquil reportedly seeking to kidnap students. He wrote, "The incident comes as a television station crew was taken hostage on live air. The chaos is in response to President Daniel Noboa's decision to call for a state of emergency after the escape of crime boss Adolfo Macías. There are also videos circulating of executions being carried out."

The New York Times shared footage of gunmen storming the television station Rugg mentioned located in Guayaquil with the caption, "Gunmen stormed a television station in Guayaquil, Ecuador, taking hostages and exchanging gunfire with the police before they were subdued and arrested. The violence, captured as cameras rolled, erupted as the country descended into chaos this week."

“The time is over when drug-trafficking convicts, hit men and organized crime dictate to the government what to do,” Mr. Noboa said in a statement reported by The Times.

According to SCNR News, Noboa signed an executive order declaring the nation to be ina as state of "internal armed conflict," which had the effect of designating 20 drug trafficking gangs as terrorist organizations. This now allows Ecuador’s military forces to “neutralize” while complying with international law, the AP reported.

The gang leader Macias was reportedly serving a 34-year sentence after his conviction for drug trafficking, murder, and other organized crime charges. Fabricio Colon Pico, leader of another gang Los Lobos reportedly escaped prison the same day. Riots occurred inside at least six prisons at the same time.

Adrian Norman of SCNR shared startling footage of the kidnapped officers being compelled to read a statement from the organized criminals saying, "You declared war, you will get war. You declared a state of emergency. We declare police, civilians and soldiers to be the spoils of war."

The cartel's members have reportedly vowed to execute anyone found on the streets after 11:00 p.m., coinciding with the curfew imposed by Noboa's executive order.