Ecuador police arrest 68 after hospital raid

Ecuador’s gang violence escalated again on Sunday as heavily-armed gang members attempted to take over a hospital in Yaguachi, in the southwestern Guayas province. It is believed that the gang members were attempting to retrieve a member who had been admitted, and help themselves to some drugs along the way. Their colleague died, 68 men were arrested by police, and then forced to lie in the street in nothing but their oddly vibrant underpants. Police also revealed that they had raided a ‘rehabilitation center’ which contained a gang command center and a brothel. Gang violence in Ecuador has exploded in recent weeks, following the escape of drug lord Adolfo Macias, also known as ‘Fito’ from prison. After a television station was raided live on air, President Daniel Noboa declared ‘war’ against the gangs.