Ecuadorian security forces claimed that they carried out an “controlled explosion“ of an explosive laden drone that targeted La Roca prison in Guayaquil on Thursday. The prison, known for housing high-profile inmates, including former Vice President Jorge Glas, was the target of an attempted attack aimed at disabling the facility, according to the Ecuadorian Security Bloc, a joint police and military unit combating drug trafficking.
The drone, which exploded on the prison’s roof, caused structural damage but no casualties. La Roca prison, part of a larger prison complex, holds around 100 inmates, many of whom are involved in organized crime.
WILD 🚨
A drone attack targeted Ecuador’s La Roca prison, where former Vice President Jorge Glas is being held. Glas was arrested in a controversial police operation at the Mexican embassy this past April.
Via @Mrgunsngear pic.twitter.com/86FgsOOaB4
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 9, 2024
Ecuador’s prisons have been under military control since January 2024, following a surge in violence linked to transnational drug cartels. President Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” as the government faces escalating attacks from criminal organizations that use Ecuador as a hub for drug shipments to the U.S. and Europe.
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