Ecuadorian police defused an explosives-laden drone on the roof of a prison on the 12th of September. Described by the Ecuadorian Interior minister as an "explosive device", the drone perched on the roof of La Roca maximum security jail in Guayaquil. The prison is infamous for housing some of the most dangerous criminals, including the six Colombians suspected of killing the presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, last month. For an impoverished nation battling the powerful narco-gangs, Increasing usage of drones and submarines by criminals is a worrying trend. Mohammed Saleh brings you this report.

Use of drones & submarines by Narco-gangs in Ecuador a worrying trend

Ecuadorian capital Quito was rocked by car bombings and grenade attacks on the intervening night of 30th and 31st of August. Hours later, inmates in six prisons took 50 prison guards and 7 police officers' hostage. The hostage situation was resolved the next day when guards and police officers were released and taken into safety. Six people, including a Colombian national, have been apprehended. Apparently, a show of force by organized criminal gangs, the wave of attacks claimed no victims. The prison uprising is believed to be a riposte to a police sweep of jails a day before to confiscate weapons. What explains Ecuador's recent descent into violence and more importantly, will it go the Colombia and Mexico way insofar the drug trade is concerned? Mohammed Saleh brings you this report.

Ecuador besieged by violence & insecurity | World At War

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Climate change tests Ecuador’s banana industry

The inmates released the 50 guards and seven police officers in six Ecuadoran prisons on Friday (September 1) after taking them hostage in the latest incident of narcotics-related mayhem, said the state prison institute.

Inmates in Ecuador jail finally release 50 guards, 7 police officers held hostage

Spanish authorities busted one of the biggest drug hauls in the country’s history after they seized 9.5 tonnes of cocaine that was hidden in a banana freight container originating from Ecuador.

Spanish authorities seize 9.5 tonnes of cocaine, one of the biggest drug hauls in Europe’s history

Ecuador was once perceived as a haven of peace sandwiched between cocaine-producing Colombia and Peru. The small South American nation was renowned as the world's top exporter of bananas and home to the biodiverse Galapagos islands, where British naturalist, Charles Darwin, developed his theory of evolution. However, in the past five years, things have taken a turn for the worse. Large ports, lax security and endemic corruption have lured foreign drug cartels to its shore. These drug cartels have increasingly felt the heat of the war on drugs in countries like Mexico and Colombia, thereby turning their attention to a nation like Ecuador. Ecuadorian prisons have turned into veritable battlegrounds between these narco-gangs. On the 12th of August, the Ecuadorian army and the national police raided prison number 4 in Guayaquil. Cocaine, marijuana, ammunition, mobile phones and unauthorized electrical appliances were seized in the raid. Mohammed Saleh brings you this report.

Prisons turned into battlegrounds between narco-gangs

Leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez and surprise challenger, business scion Daniel Noboa, won the first round of Ecuador's presidential election, beating six rivals in a race clouded by the murder of anti-graft candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Ecuador election: Leftist Luisa Gonzalez, businessman Noboa set to go to second round

Luisa Gonzalez prodigy of leftist former president Rafael Correa is reported to be leading the early vote count in Ecuador's presidential and legislative election. That too after a campaign darkened by bloodshed while voters hoped that the winner will bring the country out of a spiral of violence and economic troubles. The initial results are expected later but the outcome could take days to emerge.

Ecuador awaits presidential election results amid spike in violence

Mayor of an Ecuadorian coastal city, on Saturday (August 19), claimed that he was a victim of an attempted assassination, a day before the country is set to hold general elections. This comes as Ecuador is reeling from an unprecedented surge in violence and reported a disturbing trend of attacks against political candidates which includes the assassination of a presidential hopeful.

Ecuador mayor survives assassination attempt ahead of general elections

Ecuadoreans on Sunday (August 20) began voting in the presidential election. The eight presidential hopefuls of the South American nation have pledged to fight huge spurt in crime, which the current government blames on drug gangs, and improve the struggling economy.

Ecuador election: Polling begins as spiraling violence, economic troubles bother voters

Elections are underway in Ecuador to elect a president. The elections become significant as the country has been grappling with an alarming rise in violence, particularly over the past three years.

Ecuador presidential elections clouded by violence

Mayor of an Ecuadorian coastal city, on Saturday (August 19), claimed that he was a victim of an attempted assassination, a day before the country is set to hold general elections.

Ecuador is reeling from an unprecedented surge in violence that has claimed the life of yet another political leader named Pedro Briones, marking the third such killing in the past four weeks.

Ecuador: Third political leader killed in a week after presidential hopeful's assassination

Ecuador is grappling with a severe security crisis as it mourns the tragic killing of presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, merely days before the upcoming elections.

Explained: How drugs, gang war, corruption contributed to Ecuador prez contender's murder

Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as "Fito", who is facing allegations of issuing death threats to murdered Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, has been transferred to maximum security jail, media reports said.

WATCH | Gangster accused of giving death threats to slain Ecuador presidential candidate moved to max security

With just a week left for the August 20 election in Ecuador, the running mate of slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio will run for president in his place, the Construye party said on Saturday (August 12).

Ecuador poll: Running mate of slain candidate Fernando Villavicencio to run for president

Ecuador's interior minister, Juan Zapata, revealed on Thursday that the six suspects detained in connection with the assassination of a presidential candidate in Ecuador are Colombian nationals, adding another twist to a crime that has shaken a country gripped by violence driven by drug trafficking.

Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination: One suspect dead, six arrested

-Tensions boil over in the South China Sea -Israel threatens to 'return Lebanon into the Stone Age' if provoked into a war -State of emergency declared in Ecuador Mohammed Saleh gets you an in-depth report of the world's biggest warzones of the week in World At War.

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The Ecuadorian police have arrested six suspects and shot dead one during a raid in connection with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

Six Colombians held in connection with assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate

Ecuador was under a state of emergency Thursday after the assassination of a popular presidential candidate just days before an election dominated by concerns over the once-peaceful country's descent into brutal violence linked to drug trafficking.

Ecuador under state of emergency after presidential candidate shot

Ecuadorian Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead while exiting a campaign event. Presidential candidates have called out the government and demanded for action. Who is Fernando Villavicencio? Here's what Molly Gambhir has to say.

Gravitas: Ecuador: Presidential candidate assassinated

Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead after holding a rally in Quito on Wednesday evening, top officials said. Ecuador is reeling under shock after the assassination of the popular presidential candidate as the incident sparked widespread outrage drawing condemnation from leaders in governments across the world.

Ecuador under the state of emergency

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead after a rally in the capital Quito City on Wednesday evening (Aug 9), local media reported, citing Interior Minister Juan Zapata.

Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio shot dead after rally

Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead after holding a rally in Quito on Wednesday evening, top officials said.

Ecuadoran Presidential candidate shot dead after rally

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