Hommam Al Nassim 
Police in Ecuador arrested 68 people on Sunday after trying to take control of a hospital in the context of the ongoing war between drug cartels and security forces in the country.
Police confirmed on the X platform that they had succeeded in arresting “terrorists” who tried to take control of hospital facilities in Yaguachi Guayas, in the southwest of the country
Police said they believed the detainees were seeking to rescue a comrade who had been hospitalized hours earlier, citing the seizure of weapons and drugs.
Police said they raided a medical centre used as a gang headquarters, as well as uncovering a brothel where many gang members were hiding.
Ecuador has recently experienced a wave of violence as drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, known as “Veto”, escaped from prison, which led to Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa imposing a state of emergency and declaring “war” against gangs.
There are reportedly about 20 criminal gangs in the country with about 20,000 people, and their activities have expanded in recent years smuggling drugs to the United States and Europe.