Latin America & the Caribbean Ecuador’s state of emergency

In a Q&A, political scientist Jane Esberg discusses democracy and organized crime in Latin America.

On Jan. 8, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a national state of emergency as the country’s most notorious cartel boss, Adolfo Macías, escaped from prison. Within the country, criminal record checks increased and a curfew was imposed, as the gang leader’s escape triggered a surge of violence, including the escape of other inmates, the death of two police officers, and over 200 prison guards taken hostage.

On Jan. 20, Macías’ wife, three children, a nephew, a family friend, and a nanny were all deported back to Ecuador from Argentina, where they had arrived two weeks ago, purchasing a home in cash within a gated community outside of Córdoba. Macías himself is still at large.

Jane Esberg, assistant professor of political science, studies repression, censorship and conflict in Latin America. In a Q&A with Penn Today, she addressed the state of emergency, democracy, and organized crime in Ecuador.

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