Ecuador deems drug gangs 'terrorist groups' after live TV attack

The country has been plunged into chaos after its most notorious gang leader and drug lord, Adolfo Macías, escaped from prison on Sunday.

Transcript

00:00 The military on high alert in Ecuador following a surge in violence in recent days.

00:05 This after the country's most notorious gang leader and drug lord, Aldolfo Macias, escaped

00:11 from prison on Sunday.

00:13 President Daniel Neboja on Monday declared a 60-day state of emergency in response to

00:17 a wave of attacks inside and outside of prison.

00:20 A day later, he issued a revised decree designating 20 drug trafficking gangs as terrorist groups

00:26 and military targets.

00:28 That same day, a group of masked men crashed into a public television studio, waving guns

00:33 and explosives.

00:34 The scene was broadcast live for some 15 minutes.

00:39 Ecuador's police chief says all 13 gunmen were later arrested and will be charged with

00:43 terrorism.

00:44 Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Macias, leader of the notorious Los Choneros gang, remains

00:50 unknown.

00:52 Also referred to as Fito, he's serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, murder and

00:57 organized crime.

00:59 He was due to be transferred to a Maxim security facility on the day of his disappearance.

01:04 Los Choneros is one of the Ecuadorian gangs authorities believe to be responsible for

01:08 the spike in violence.

01:10 The 60-day state of emergency declared on Monday allows the authorities to suspend rights

01:15 and mobilize the military in places like prisons.

01:19 It also imposed a curfew from 11 in the evening until 5 in the morning.

01:23 The president has vowed he'll not stop until he brings back peace for all Ecuadorians.

01:28 (whooshing)