Ecuador police rescue 49 kidnapping victims from crime gang

World

Police in Ecuador say 49 kidnapping victims have been rescued from a crime gang in the south of the country.

Two suspected kidnappers were arrested during the raid in a mining region in Azuay province.

Police said the Los Lobos (The Wolves) crime gang was behind the kidnappings.

An earlier statement from the armed forces said 46 people were rescued and five were found killed – four of them dismembered.

Two suspected kidnappers were arrested during the raid. Pic: Ecuador Police
Image:
Two suspected kidnappers were arrested during the raid. Pic: Ecuador Police

“Forty-nine citizens who were victims of kidnapping in mining areas were released and two people linked to this crime were arrested,” Ecuador’s police said in a statement.

Dynamite, weapons and ammunition were also seized during the raid.

More than 20 people opened fire on soldiers during the rescue operation, Ecuador’s army said.

No one had been hurt, it added.

Read more from Sky News:
Hezbollah claims it has fired 200 rockets into Israel
Family hits back as TikTok sleuth quits Jay Slater search
French politicians attacked on election campaign trail

Ecuador has faced a spate of violent crime.

President Daniel Noboa has declared states of emergency several times – under which military forces patrolled the streets and jails.

He also designated 22 crime gangs as terrorist groups.

Articles You May Like

Government calls on industry to introduce voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to support grassroots venues
Momentum is swinging behind us, say assisted dying opponents, after health secretary’s warning
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Gets New Coronagraph to Spot Exoplanets
At least 26 killed in Pakistan train station bombing
‘Welcome back’: Biden greets Trump at White House – for meeting president was never offered