Gunmen storm TV studio in Ecuador: A country under siege by drug cartels

In an unprecedented move, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa has declared an all-out “internal armed conflict” against the nation’s formidable criminal gangs. This dramatic decision comes in the wake of a terrifying assault by hooded gunmen on a television studio and chilling threats against security forces and civilians.

TV Studio Attack: The Tipping Point

The nation was shaken as attackers armed with rifles and grenades stormed the TC television studio in Guayaquil, leading to a harrowing ordeal broadcast live. Terrified crew members were forced onto the ground, and gunshots echoed as the studio lights dimmed, yet the broadcast continued, capturing the chaos and fear. The attackers’ brazenness has left the country reeling, with a TC employee’s desperate plea for life echoing the nation’s shock.

Gang Retaliation: Explosions and Kidnappings

Following Noboa’s declaration of a 60-day state of emergency and nighttime curfew, the gangsters hit back with a vengeance. Explosions rocked several cities, and the kidnapping of seven police officers marked an escalation in the gang’s brutal tactics. A video circulating on social media showed the officers in a state of terror, delivering a menacing message to Noboa: “You declared war, you will get war.”

The Manhunt for Fito and Rising Violence

Authorities are now frantically searching for Jose Adolfo Macias, known as “Fito,” the escaped gang leader, along with another narco boss, Fabricio Colon Pico. The unrest has spread to penitentiaries across Ecuador, with prison guards taken hostage and images of inmates rounded up in courtyards by heavily armed forces.

Ecuador’s Struggle with Drug Violence

Once a bastion of peace between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador now finds itself engulfed in unprecedented violence. The murder rate has skyrocketed, with the most violent year on record seeing over 7,800 homicides. The country is grappling with the grim reality of over 460 prisoner deaths since February 2021, many gruesomely beheaded or burnt alive.

President Noboa’s vow to “not negotiate with terrorists nor rest until we return peace to all Ecuadorans” reflects the nation’s desperate struggle against the rising tide of drug-related crime and violence.