Ecuador's Prison Chief Fatally Attacked During Crime-Focused Referendum

The director of an Ecuadorian prison called "El Rodeo" was tragically killed on Sunday in an attack. This incident occurred as millions of people in the country were voting in a referendum that mainly focused on President Daniel Noboa's efforts to combat crime.

The Ecuadorian national prisons agency SNAI identified the official as Cosme Damián Parrales Merchán, who served as the director of the Manabi region prison. However, no further information about his death has been provided at this time.

Another individual was injured in the attack, as reported by the Ecuador Prosecutor’s Office. Officers at the scene have already begun their investigation, although there have been no arrests made at this time.

SNAI has expressed its commitment to collaborating with local authorities in the investigation of Parrales’ tragic death. They also mentioned that his passing has saddened the entire National Social Rehabilitation System.

CNNE has reached out SNAI for comment.

President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa speaks during an event to deliver vests, radios, and other new equipment to Police amid the internal armed conflict declared against organized crime, at the Police School in Quito, Ecuador, 22 January 2024.

President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, addressed the audience at an event held at the Police School in Quito, Ecuador on January 22, 2024. During the event, new equipment such as vests, radios, and other essential items were delivered to the Police force. This initiative was taken amidst the internal armed conflict declared against organized crime in the country.

Photograph by José Jácome/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Ecuadorians head to polls for referendum as Noboa seeks backing for war on crime

Parrales was killed on the same day that Ecuadorians were called to the polls for a referendum focused on security issues. This referendum could support President Daniel Noboa's efforts to tackle crime effectively.

One of the major proposals in the referendum is to enable the military to work alongside the police in combating organized crime. Currently, this collaboration is only allowed under a state of emergency, which has a 90-day limit. Additionally, the referendum aims to lift the ban on the extradition of Ecuadorians, which is currently prohibited by the Constitution. Lastly, the proposed referendum seeks to increase the penalties for individuals convicted of violent crimes.

Noboa is optimistic that these actions will assist him in controlling the rising levels of organized crime associated with drug cartels.

Ecuador was previously recognized as a “peaceful island” positioned between the top two cocaine producers globally, Peru and Colombia. However, due to the country's deep ports, it has become a crucial stop for cocaine en route to customers in the United States and Europe. Competing criminal groups are currently engaged in a fierce competition to dominate these smuggling pathways.

Violence is increasingly becoming a major issue in Ecuador, with incidents spilling over into the public sphere in a brutal manner. According to data from the Ecuadorian National Police, the murder rate in 2016 stood at 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people. By 2022, this rate had surged to 25.6, putting Ecuador on par with countries like Colombia and Mexico, known for their history of drug cartel violence.

Shortly after Noboa took office, he was forced to declare a nationwide state of emergency due to a significant deterioration in the security situation. The escalation was triggered by the escape of Adolfo Macias, a notorious gang leader known as Fito, from a prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest and arguably most dangerous city.

Initial results from the referendum are expected late Sunday.

CNN’s Abel Alvarado contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The tragic