QUITO, Ecuador: Ecuador’s President, Daniel Noboa, has taken a decisive step to address the severe prison crisis in the country by ordering the extradition of all foreign nationals currently incarcerated.
The decree, calls on the prison authority SNAI to initiate administrative procedures, ensuring that foreign inmates serve their sentences “in their country of origin or nationality.”
The move comes as Ecuador grapples with a dire prison situation marked by drug trafficking and violent gang battles. With detention facilities designed for 30,200 places but currently holding 33,000 inmates, the overcrowding issue has become a pressing concern.
A 2022 penitentiary census revealed that over 10 per cent of Ecuador’s inmates are of foreign nationality. The state of emergency declared on January 8, triggered by the escape of a prominent narcotics gang leader, has heightened the need for decisive actions.
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Ecuador’s strategic location between major cocaine producers has made it a focal point for transnational cartels, leading to increased drug-related challenges.
The crisis has resulted in numerous deaths within the prison system, with 20 reported fatalities in the early months of this year. Additionally, around 200 police officers and guards have been taken hostage, further escalating tensions.
In a previous announcement, President Noboa had ordered the extradition of approximately 1,500 Colombian prisoners, a measure that faced rejection from Bogota. The latest decision to extend extradition measures to all foreign inmates underscores the urgency of addressing the multifaceted issues contributing to Ecuador’s ongoing prison crisis.
