Ecuador prison violence and security operations

Violence erupted in several Ecuadorian detention centers in late October 2026. On October 23, riots at the Cotopaxi No. 1 prison in Latacunga and the Pichincha No. 1 facility in Quito resulted in eight deaths and ten injuries. At the El Inca facility, violence reportedly involved gunfire and stabbings, leading to the arrest of two inmates and a prison guard.

These incidents followed a national prisoner classification plan intended to weaken criminal organizations by redistributing over 9,000 inmates.

By October 25, further fatalities were reported at the Azuay No. 1 prison, known as Turi, in Cuenca. Five inmates died between October 19 and October 25, with investigators noting signs of violence in at least three cases. During security operations at the Turi facility, the Ecuadorian Army seized various forms of contraband, including mobile phones, sharp objects, and handmade pipes.

Specific details regarding the fatalities emerged as the wave of violence continued. In Latacunga, four inmates died at the Cotopaxi prison, including three reportedly shot and one allegedly strangled. In Quito, the El Inca prison reported four deaths and ten injuries. In response to the instability, the National Service for the Integral Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI) has transferred suspected perpetrators to the El Encuentro maximum-security prison in Santa Elena.