Ecuador begins construction of a prison to house drug lords
Jun 22, 2024
Quito [Ecuador], June 22: Ecuador , once peaceful, is now plunged into crisis due to transnational drug gangs turning the country's seaports into transit points for cocaine bound for the US and Europe.
Prisons across the country were turned into real "bloodbaths", with more than 460 prisoners killed in three years of war between drug gangs.
In January, Ecuador witnessed the daring escape of a drug trafficking ring leader, who has yet to be recaptured. The above developments forced President Daniel Noboa to declare a state of "internal armed conflict" in the country located on the equator.
"Today (June 21), we mark one of the important milestones in the fight against terrorism and the mafia people who have so far escaped the law," AFP on June 22 quoted President Noboa as saying at the groundbreaking ceremony. built the highest security prison in the coastal town of Santa Elena on June 21.
The leader said the total cost for the prison construction project is 52 million USD. With a capacity of 800 prisoners, this place is designed to reclassify and isolate dangerous criminals and mafia bosses , who will be monitored 24/7.
After being sworn into office in November 2023, President Noboa announced that he would build two highest security prisons.
General Luis Zaldumbide, Director of the national prison management agency SNAI, said this will be the 37th prison camp in Ecuador, and will be built in a record time of completion within 300 days.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
