22 dead amid gang clashes in Ecuador's largest city

Infighting betwixt factions of a gang vying for power implicit territory successful Ecuador's largest metropolis Guayaquil, near astir 2 twelve radical dead, authorities said connected Friday.

Gun battles broke retired crossed the bluish vicinity of Nueva Prosperina connected Thursday day betwixt members of transgression radical Los Tiguerones, section constabulary main Pablo Davila told reporters.

"Yesterday criminals killed each other successful these definite parts of town," Davila said. "The occupation is that they cognize each other, they cognize wherever they live, and they're warring implicit who has powerfulness implicit that territory."

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Police launched an violative successful response, carrying retired astir 200 searches and seizing guns and ammunition. Fourteen people, including 2 minors, were arrested successful the area.

Several of those killed and arrested had transgression records, according to authorities, with charges ranging from robbery to cause trafficking.

Ecuador’s National Police presents individuals detained during a constabulary cognition pursuing pack clashes that resulted successful aggregate victims, successful Guayaquil, Ecuador successful this handout photograph distributed connected March 7, 2025. (Ecuador Interior Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)

The authorities successful caller weeks has doubled down connected its effect successful Ecuador's astir convulsive regions, arsenic portion of President Daniel Noboa's warfare connected drug-trafficking gangs.

Los Tiguerones and different gangs are considered violent groups by the government.

Noboa, who is seeking re-election successful an April runoff vote, has said subject and constabulary officers volition beryllium allowed to respond to the Guayaquil unit without fearfulness of being punished for acting with a dense hand.

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