Did gangs detonate explosive devices on a bridge in Ecuador?

A boy watches from behind the bars of an electronics store as a soldier stands guard in Guayaquil, Ecuador [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] Criminal gangs in Ecuador have detonated explosive devices on a bridge, authorities said, causing damage to an inter-city route as the country contends with a wave of violence.

Why are gangs rioting in Ecuador?

Once seen as a peaceful haven, Ecuador has seen surging gang violence in recent years, particularly within its prisons. Authorities have attributed a series of deadly prison riots to an escalating battle over lucrative drug trafficking routes, precipitated by the 2020 killing of Jorge Zambrano, the leader of the local Los Choneros gang.

Is Ecuador a safe place for drug traffickers?

The risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft estimates an increase in murders of almost 500 percent since 2016, for a total of 22 murders per 100,000 people in 2022. Ecuador is considered a desirable territory for drug traffickers, as it is located between major cocaine-producing regions in Colombia and Peru.