The Ecuadorian National Police have confirmed that 14 people were killed—including 13 inmates and one prison guard—during a violent clash between rival gangs inside the Machala prison facility in southwest Ecuador. The riot, which erupted in the early hours of Monday morning, involved firearms, explosives, and hostage-taking, marking one of the deadliest prison incidents in the country this year.
According to Colonel William Calle, commander of the police unit responding to the crisis, gunfire broke out between rival inmate factions, prompting an immediate security response. The prison, which houses nearly double its intended capacity, became a battleground as inmates used military-grade weapons and explosives in the confrontation.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent outbreaks in Ecuador’s overcrowded and gang-controlled penitentiaries. Since 2021, hundreds of inmates have died in prison violence, often in gruesome fashion. The government has placed prisons under military control since January 2024, following a declaration of “internal armed conflict” by President Daniel Noboa.
Ecuador’s strategic location between Colombia and Peru—two of the world’s top cocaine producers—has made it a hotspot for transnational drug cartels. Rival gangs, including Los Choneros and Los Lobos (recently designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.), continue to battle for control over drug routes and prison territories.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the Machala prison riot and pledged to reinforce security measures. The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights reiterated its commitment to prison reform and the protection of correctional staff.