Ecuador Declares State of Emergency as Notorious Druglord Escapes Prison

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency after a notorious narco boss, Jose Adolfo Macias, escaped from a maximum security prison, prompting unrest in multiple penitentiaries. The country's armed forces are mobilizing to address the situation, with over 3,000 personnel involved in the search for the escaped inmate. Macias, also known as "Fito," leads the criminal group Los Choneros, which is involved in drug trafficking, murder, and extortion. The escape has raised concerns about the control of Ecuador's overcrowded prisons, where rival criminal organizations frequently clash, resulting in over 400 inmate deaths since 2021.