Gang leader's prison break puts restive Ecuador on high alert

Ecuador’s president declared a state of emergency following the escape of a notorious gang leader from prison. The leader, known as ‘Fito,’ is associated with the Los Choneros drug cartel. Security fears have escalated as authorities struggle to control the ongoing criminal turf war. The state of emergency will last for 60 days and includes a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. The president authorized security forces to regain control of the country’s troubled prison system. Ecuador has become a key transit point for drug trafficking due to its strategic location between Peru and Colombia.