It was the deadliest prison riot in Ecuador’s history. On a single day in September 2021, at least 120 people were killed in clashes between rival gangs at the Guayaquil penitentiary. The bloodletting was an early sign of the growing power of the country’s gangs and a warning about the kind of extreme violence they could unleash. One inmate, Phoenix, saw the prison battle unfold. Phoenix asked to be identified only by his nickname because of safety concerns.
The prison battle that led to a gang war
and
Jess Ruliffson
April 17, 2024 at 5:06 a.m. EDT
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End of carouselThis comic is based on interviews with Phoenix and references illustrations drawn by him, along with extensive reporting on Ecuador’s prison system and gang violence. Scenes and dialogue reflect his recollections as well as The Washington Post’s reporting on the 2021 prison riot in the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil.
The comic is part of a series of stories about the rising power of organized criminal groups in Latin America, the United States’ biggest trading partner. The first piece reconstructs the day, earlier this year, when Ecuador’s gangs pushed the country into chaos and led a young president to declare a state of “internal armed conflict.”
Latin America is producing more than twice as much cocaine as it did a decade ago. Nearly every one of its mainland nations has become a major producer or mover of the drug, feeding booming markets in the United States, Europe and South America.
Organized-crime groups have moved well beyond narcotics. They’ve created sprawling illicit industries in extortion, migrant smuggling and gold mining. Their power has become so great that they form a new kind of insurgency, infiltrating government operations.
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Litoral Penitentiary
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Sept. 28, 2021
This is Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison, a complex housing thousands of inmates.
The wards are divided by gang members.
When an inmate enters the prison—
—it’s not the guards who decide where he goes.
It’s the gangs.
Litoral Penitentiary
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Sept. 28, 2021
This is Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison, a complex housing thousands of inmates.
The wards are divided by gang members.
When an inmate enters the prison--
--it’s not the guards who decide where he goes.
It’s the gangs.
Litoral Penitentiary
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Sept. 28, 2021
This is Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison, a complex housing thousands of inmates.
When an inmate enters the prison--
The wards are divided by gang members.
--it’s not the guards who decide where he goes.
It’s the gangs.
Litoral Penitentiary
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Sept. 28, 2021
This is Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prison, a complex housing thousands of inmates.
The wards are divided by gang members.
When an inmate enters the prison--
--it’s not the guards who decide where he goes.
It’s the gangs.
For Phoenix, it all started when he met two men to sell them roosters for cockfighting.
March 16, 2020
The police showed up. They found 5,000 grams of heroin and arrested all of us.
Everybody on the ground!
As soon as I arrived at the prison, the gang leaders approached me.
Give me your shoes.
Take off your shirt. Show me your tattoos.
I had tattoos, but none of them belonged to a gang.
For Phoenix, it all started when he met two men to sell them roosters for cockfighting.
March 16, 2020
The police showed up. They found 5,000 grams of heroin and arrested all of us.
Everybody on the ground!
As soon as I arrived at the prison, the gang leaders approached me.
Give me your shoes.
Take off your shirt. Show me your tattoos.
I had tattoos, but none of them belonged to a gang.
For Phoenix, it all started when he met two men to sell them roosters for cockfighting.
The police showed up. They found 5,000 grams of heroin and arrested all of us.
March 16, 2020
Everybody on the ground!
As soon as I arrived at the prison, the gang leaders approached me.
Take off your shirt. Show me your tattoos.
I had tattoos, but none of them belonged to a gang.
Give me your shoes.
For Phoenix, it all started when he met two men to sell them roosters for cockfighting.
The police showed up. They found 5,000 grams of heroin and arrested all of us.
March 16, 2020
Everybody on the ground!
As soon as I arrived at the prison, the gang leaders approached me.
Take off your shirt. Show me your tattoos.
I had tattoos, but none of them belonged to a gang.
Give me your shoes.
They told me if I want to be in a safe cell, it’ll cost me.
I need $500.
After two months in a transitory area, we were moved to the main prison.
We slept in a space known as “purgatory.” There were 600 people in one room. We took turns sleeping every two hours.
That’s where I met a friend who had connections with Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, the top leader of the most powerful gang in the prison, the Choneros.
He vouched for me to live in one of the prison’s most important wards.
They found out I am an artist, so I started painting murals for Fito.
They told me if I want to be in a safe cell, it’ll cost me.
I need $500.
After two months in a transitory area, we were moved to the main prison.
We slept in a space known as “purgatory.” There were 600 people in one room. We took turns sleeping every two hours.
í
That’s where I met a friend who had connections with Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, the top leader of the most powerful gang in the prison, the Choneros.
He vouched for me to live in one of the prison’s most important wards.
They found out I am an artist, so I started painting murals for Fito.
They told me if I want to be in a safe cell, it’ll cost me.
After two months in a transitory area, we were moved to the main prison.
I need $500.
That’s where I met a friend who had connections with Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, the top leader of the most powerful gang in the prison, the Choneros.
We slept in a space known as “purgatory.” There were 600 people in one room. We took turns sleeping every two hours.
He vouched for me to live in one of the prison’s most important wards.
They found out I am an artist, so I started painting murals for Fito.
After two months in a transitory area, we were moved to the main prison.
They told me if I want to be in a safe cell, it’ll cost me.
I need $500.
We slept in a space known as “purgatory.” There were 600 people in one room. We took turns sleeping every two hours.
That’s where I met a friend who had connections with Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, the top leader of the most powerful gang in the prison, the Choneros.
He vouched for me to live in one of the prison’s most important wards.
They found out I am an artist, so I started painting murals for Fito.
$50.
Welcome to Dubai. Everything here is expensive!
I learned I could work as something called a “60,” an administrative job in the prison that gives you extra privileges.
Once the gang leaders realized I was a 60, they asked me for special favors. I started helping them smuggle in items — speakers, TVs, whatever they needed.
Heavy. I wonder if it’s weapons...
The country’s prisons became command centers of the most powerful cartels.
A top Choneros leader known as “JL” or “Rasquiña”, helped transform his local gang into a major drug trafficking organization.
$50.
Welcome to Dubai. Everything here is expensive!
I learned I could work as something called a “60,” an administrative job in the prison that gives you extra privileges.
Once the gang leaders realized I was a 60, they asked me for special favors. I started helping them smuggle in items — speakers, TVs, whatever they needed.
Heavy. I wonder if it’s weapons...
The country’s prisons became command centers of the most powerful cartels.
A top Choneros leader known as “JL” or “Rasquiña”, helped transform his local gang into a major drug trafficking organization.
$50.
Welcome to Dubai. Everything here is expensive!
I learned I could work as something called a “60,” an administrative job in the prison that gives you extra privileges.
Once the gang leaders realized I was a 60, they asked me for special favors. I started helping them smuggle in items — speakers, TVs, whatever they needed.
Heavy. I wonder if it’s weapons...
The country’s prisons became command centers of the most powerful cartels.
A top Choneros leader known as “JL” or “Rasquiña”, helped transform his local gang into a major drug trafficking organization.
$50.
Welcome to Dubai. Everything here is expensive!
I learned I could work as something called a “60,” an administrative job in the prison that gives you extra privileges.
Once the gang leaders realized I was a 60, they asked me for special favors. I started helping them smuggle in items — speakers, TVs, whatever they needed.
Heavy. I wonder if it’s weapons...
The country’s prisons became command centers of the most powerful cartels.
A top Choneros leader known as “JL” or “Rasquiña”, helped transform his local gang into a major drug trafficking organization.
He created powerful alliances, allowing him to maintain order in the prison.
But in December 2020, JL was killed after being released.
It was only 6 p.m. but everyone stayed locked in their jail cells with the lights out, worried about what could happen next.
After JL’s killing, the Choneros began to fracture. With its leadership in dispute, some of its smaller groups tried to capitalize on the vacuum.
Two key members of the Choneros, Fito and another top leader, Junior Roldán, took the helm of what was left of the organization — but suddenly, they were surrounded by enemies.
He created powerful alliances, allowing him to maintain order in the prison.
But in December 2020, JL was killed after being released.
It was only 6 p.m. but everyone stayed locked in their jail cells with the lights out, worried about what could happen next.
After JL’s killing, the Choneros began to fracture. With its leadership in dispute, some of its smaller groups tried to capitalize on the vacuum.
Two key members of the Choneros, Fito and another top leader, Junior Roldán, took the helm of what was left of the organization — but suddenly, they were surrounded by enemies.
But in December 2020, JL was killed after being released.
He created powerful alliances, allowing him to maintain order in the prison.
It was only 6 p.m. but everyone stayed locked in their jail cells with the lights out, worried about what could happen next.
Two key members of the Choneros, Fito and another top leader, Junior Roldán, took the helm of what was left of the organization — but suddenly, they were surrounded by enemies.
After JL’s killing, the Choneros began to fracture. With its leadership in dispute, some of its smaller groups tried to capitalize on the vacuum.
But in December 2020, JL was killed after being released.
He created powerful alliances, allowing him to maintain order in the prison.
It was only 6 p.m. but everyone stayed locked in their jail cells with the lights out, worried about what could happen next.
Two key members of the Choneros, Fito and another top leader, Junior Roldán, took the helm of what was left of the organization — but suddenly, they were surrounded by enemies.
After JL’s killing, the Choneros began to fracture. With its leadership in dispute, some of its smaller groups tried to capitalize on the vacuum.
In February 2021, dozens of inmates died in fighting across multiple prisons.
They smuggled the weapons in with the food for inmates. There were 15 rifles in my ward alone.
One morning at 8 a.m., a drone dropped items on the patio. The next morning, they asked me to carry a suitcase to the other wards.
It was full of amunition.
That’s when the bloodbath began.
The Choneros wanted to attack wards 8 and 9. But then a Choneros member turned on his own group.
He used explosives to blow a hole through a wall, allowing members of Los Lobos and Los Tiguerones to leave wards 8 and 9 and take over ward 5.
In February 2021, dozens of inmates died in fighting across multiple prisons.
They smuggled the weapons in with the food for inmates. There were 15 rifles in my ward alone.
One morning at 8 a.m., a drone dropped items on the patio. The next morning, they asked me to carry a suitcase to the other wards.
It was full of amunition.
That’s when the bloodbath began.
The Choneros wanted to attack wards 8 and 9. But then a Choneros member turned on his own group.
He used explosives to blow a hole through a wall, allowing members of Los Lobos and Los Tiguerones to leave wards 8 and 9 and take over ward 5.
In February 2021, dozens of inmates died in fighting across multiple prisons.
They smuggled the weapons in with the food for inmates. There were 15 rifles in my ward alone.
One morning at 8 a.m., a drone dropped items on the patio. The next morning, they asked me to carry a suitcase to the other wards.
It was full of amunition.
The Choneros wanted to attack wards 8 and 9. But then a Choneros member turned on his own group.
That’s when the bloodbath began.
He used explosives to blow a hole through a wall, allowing members of Los Lobos and Los Tiguerones to leave wards 8 and 9 and take over ward 5.
In February 2021, dozens of inmates died in fighting across multiple prisons.
They smuggled the weapons in with the food for inmates. There were 15 rifles in my ward alone.
One morning at 8 a.m., a drone dropped items on the patio. The next morning, they asked me to carry a suitcase to the other wards.
It was full of amunition.
That’s when the bloodbath began.
The Choneros wanted to attack wards 8 and 9. But then a Choneros member turned on his own group.
He used explosives to blow a hole through a wall, allowing members of Los Lobos and Los Tiguerones to leave ward 8 and 9 and take over ward 5.
That afternoon, the police stepped in to take control of the ward.
But fearing for their safety, they left.
At night, the battle started again.
That was a loud one.
We’re going to take back the ward.
That afternoon, the police stepped in to take control of the ward.
But fearing for their safety, they left.
At night, the battle started again.
That was a loud one.
We’re going to take back the ward.
That afternoon, the police stepped in to take control of the ward.
But fearing for their safety, they left.
At night, the battle started again.
That was a loud one.
We’re going to take back the ward.
That afternoon, the police stepped in to take control of the ward.
But fearing for their safety, they left.
At night, the battle started again.
That was a loud one.
We’re going to take back the ward.
Authorities waited until the fighting was over to re-enter the prison.
At 8 a.m. I went to work in the management office.
Three of us were tasked with identifying the corpses.
We spent three days identifying bodies from 8 in the morning until midnight.
We tried using their tattoos, but many couldn’t be identified because of how badly burned they were.
I lost my appetite.
The war started in the prison, but it would end in the streets.
Authorities waited until the fighting was over to re-enter the prison.
At 8 a.m. I went to work in the management office.
Three of us were tasked with identifying the corpses.
We spent three days identifying bodies from 8 in the morning until midnight.
We tried using their tattoos, but many couldn’t be identified because of how badly burned they were.
I lost my appetite.
The war started in the prison, but it would end in the streets.
Authorities waited until the fighting was over to re-enter the prison.
At 8 a.m. I went to work in the management office.
Three of us were tasked with identifying the corpses.
We tried using their tattoos, but many couldn’t be identified because of how badly burned they were.
We spent three days identifying bodies from 8 in the morning until midnight.
The war started in the prison, but it would end in the streets.
I lost my appetite.
Authorities waited until the fighting was over to re-enter the prison.
At 8 a.m. I went to work in the management office.
Three of us were tasked with identifying the corpses.
We tried using their tattoos, but many couldn’t be identified because of how badly burned they were.
We spent three days identifying bodies from 8 in the morning until midnight.
The war started in the prison, but it would end in the streets.
I lost my appetite.
The gangs began competing for control of the country’s cocaine trafficking routes.
Bodies were found hanging from a bridge outside Guayaquil, a symbol of the influence of the Mexican cartels.
Extortion, car bombs and kidnappings became a part of life.
Dec. 14, 2023
The attorney general uncovered widespread corruption that helped gang leaders maintain control of prisons.
The gangs fought back. Fito and another top gang leader escaped from prison.
Armed men terrorized the country in a series of attacks.
Jan. 9, 2024
One group took over a television station during a live broadcast.
The new president, Daniel Noboa, declared an internal armed conflict with the gangs. He instructed the military to take control of the prisons.
We are in a state of war.
The gangs began competing for control of the country’s cocaine trafficking routes.
Bodies were found hanging from a bridge outside Guayaquil, a symbol of the influence of the Mexican cartels.
Extortion, car bombs and kidnappings became a part of life.
Dec. 14, 2023
The attorney general uncovered widespread corruption that helped gang leaders maintain control of prisons.
The gangs fought back. Fito and another top gang leader escaped from prison.
Armed men terrorized the country in a series of attacks.
Jan. 9, 2024
One group took over a television station during a live broadcast.
The new president, Daniel Noboa, declared an internal armed conflict with the gangs. He instructed the military to take control of the prisons.
We are in a state of war.
The gangs began competing for control of the country’s cocaine trafficking routes.
Bodies were found hanging from a bridge outside Guayaquil, a symbol of the influence of the Mexican cartels.
The gangs fought back. Fito and another top gang leader escaped from prison.
The attorney general uncovered widespread corruption that helped gang leaders maintain control of prisons.
Extortion, car bombs and kidnappings became a part of life.
Dec. 14, 2023
The new president, Daniel Noboa, declared an internal armed conflict with the gangs. He instructed the military to take control of the prisons.
One group took over a television station during a live broadcast.
Armed men terrorized the country in a series of attacks.
We are in a state of war.
Jan. 9, 2024
The gangs began competing for control of the country’s cocaine trafficking routes.
Bodies were found hanging from a bridge outside Guayaquil, a symbol of the influence of the Mexican cartels.
The gangs fought back. Fito and another top gang leader escaped from prison.
The attorney general uncovered widespread corruption that helped gang leaders maintain control of prisons.
Extortion, car bombs and kidnappings became a part of life.
Dec. 14, 2023
The new president, Daniel Noboa, declared an internal armed conflict with the gangs. He instructed the military to take control of the prisons.
Armed men terrorized the country in a series of attacks.
One group took over a television station during a live broadcast.
We are in a state of war.
Jan. 9, 2024
As chaos has consumed his country, Phoenix has struggled to distance himself from the gangs.
I’ve since started a job at a call center. But I’m still in touch with members of the Choneros.
Could you receive some drugs for me? Just in case you’d like to earn some extra cash.
Don’t worry. If you ever have any problems, you can let me know.
I don’t know how they got my number.
I’m not part of the gang.
But I can never completely disconnect from them.
As chaos has consumed his country, Phoenix has struggled to distance himself from the gangs.
I’ve since started a job at a call center. But I’m still in touch with members of the Choneros.
Could you receive some drugs for me? Just in case you’d like to earn some extra cash.
Don’t worry. If you ever have any problems, you can let me know.
I don’t know how they got my number.
I’m not part of the gang.
But I can never completely disconnect from them.
As chaos has consumed his country, Phoenix has struggled to distance himself from the gangs.
I’ve since started a job at a call center. But I’m still in touch with members of the Choneros.
Don’t worry. If you ever have any problems, you can let me know.
Could you receive some drugs for me? Just in case you’d like to earn some extra cash.
I’m not part of the gang.
I don’t know how they got my number.
But I can never completely disconnect from them.
I’ve since started a job at a call center. But I’m still in touch with members of the Choneros.
As chaos has consumed his country, Phoenix has struggled to distance himself from the gangs.
Don’t worry. If you ever have any problems, you can let me know.
Could you receive some drugs for me? Just in case you’d like to earn some extra cash.
I’m not part of the gang.
I don’t know how they got my number.
But I can never completely disconnect from them.
Diana Durán and Arturo Torres contributed to this report. Editing by Reem Akkad, Peter Finn, Hannah Good and Matthew Brown. Design and development by Hannah Good. Design editing by Christine Ashack and Joseph Moore. Copy editing by Vanessa Larson and Paola Ruano.
