Over 10,000 people detained in Ecuador since January unrest

Police and the Ecuadorian Armed Forces have detained more than 10,000 people suspected of involvement in armed unrest caused by prison riots in early January, Report informs via TASS.

A total of 10,134 people were detained between January 9 and February 25, with 268 of them detained on suspicion of terrorism, the press service of the National Police of Ecuador said in a post on the social network X.

More than 126,000 law enforcement officers participated in operations to combat crime. They seized about 3,000 firearms, almost 20,000 explosive devices and more than 64 tons of narcotic substances. The number of released police and corrections officers who were held hostage exceeds 210.

The security situation in Ecuador worsened on January 7 after the leader of the Los Choneros gang, nicknamed Fito, escaped from prison. After this, riots broke out in several penitentiary institutions across the country. On January 8, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew. The curfew was later lifted in 160 of the 221 cantons.