Ecuador violence: 178 prison guards, staff held hostage by gangs

"As the stalemate between security forces and organized crime reached a fever pitch, officials in Ecuador said that the gangsters had seized at least 178 prison guards and personnel.

The SNAI prison administration said that there were riots in numerous lockups, with inmates shooting at personnel of the Ecuadorian military forces. The number was 39 more than the previous day.
The small South American country has descended into crisis after years of extending control by global cartels that utilize its ports to ship cocaine to the United States and Europe." WION