Rebellion in Ecuador's Largest Prisons... At Least 15 Killed

At least 15 prisoners have been killed and 20 others injured in a rebellion that took place in one of Ecuador's largest prisons, according to official authorities. The prison administration stated that "tactical units continue operations to regain control of the prison," located on the outskirts of the city of Latacunga, which has seen seven massacres linked to drug trafficking since February 2021, resulting in over 400 deaths combined. They added that "the armed forces are providing support in the surrounding area" of the prison. This is one of Ecuador's largest prisons, housing around 4,300 inmates. So far, authorities have failed to maintain control over the prisons, where acts of violence are often very brutal, especially as many of the victims are killed by stabbing or beheading or other savage methods. According to official figures, Ecuador's overcrowded prisons hold about 35,000 inmates, many of whom are gang members competing for control over drug trafficking.