Contract killers murder public prosecutor in Ecuador

Hitmen have murdered a public prosecutor in Babahoyo (capital of Ecuador’s Los Ríos province and 351 kilometers from Quito). Federico Estrella is the third prosecutor to die in a violent crime this year.

On Tuesday morning (16) local time, the Prosecutor General’s Office issued a statement. It expressed its “vigorous rejection of the wave of violence that the country is experiencing, the attacks, threats, and intimidation to which the employees of this institution are subjected.”

This is not an isolated case for the institution, as violence “claims deadly victims every day.”

In the communication, the Prosecutor’s Office reiterates that its officials will continue their investigative work following the Constitution and applicable regulations, “despite these and other attacks against employees and workers of the institution, as well as several attempts of intimidation aimed at intimidating them in the performance of their duties.”

For the institution, it is necessary that “the country has an effective strategy to combat all types of crime and prevent the daily death of innocent people.” In addition, the head of the institution, Prosecutor Diana Salazar, called on government agencies to work together “to fight crime and prevent the loss of more lives.”

Violence has increased in the South American country. According to the National Police, 2,647 violent deaths have been registered this year. Of those, Guayaquil accounted for 38 percent of the deaths. Police assert that 75 percent of these homicides are related to drug trafficking.

More: Ecuador news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

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