Ecuador Hunts 6 Inmates Who Fled Santo Domingo Prison
ECUADOR · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —The country Ecuador is a South American country that uses the US dollar and is fighting powerful drug gangs, including two that Washington lists as terrorist organizations.
- —What happened Six inmates escaped from the maximum-security wing of the Santo Domingo prison early on Monday 12 October 2026, police said.
- —How they got out Police say they broke through a cell wall, moved along a pipe duct and made a second opening at the back of the building.
- —Who they are Police say three were held for rape and three for murder, robbery or drugs; investigators are still checking for gang links.
- —The search Police, soldiers and drones are combing Santo Domingo, and police have issued a public alert to identify the six and a reward plan for tips.
- —What it means for you The US State Department already tells Americans to reconsider travel to Santo Domingo province because of terrorism and crime.
- —Still open Officials have not said how the escape went unnoticed or whether anyone helped, and no recapture had been reported by Monday night.
Six inmates escaped from the maximum-security wing of the Santo Domingo prison in western Ecuador early on Monday 12 October, police said. They broke through a cell wall, moved along a pipe duct and made a second opening at the back of the building.
Police and soldiers are hunting the six with drones and a cordon around the Santo Domingo prison. The US State Department tells Americans to reconsider travel to the province, and the breakout follows a recent escape from Turi prison in Cuenca.
How the Six Got Out of the Santo Domingo Prison
The Santo Domingo prison is officially called the Centro de Privación de Libertad Santo Domingo N.º 1 and is known locally as Bellavista. It lies in the province of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, west of Quito.
The six were held in Pavilion D, the maximum-security block, according to Primicias, El Comercio and Expreso. Police told reporters that the men opened a hole in a cell wall and moved through a space built for pipes.
They then made a second opening that led them out behind the Santo Domingo prison. Expreso and El Comercio report that their route led to a nearby river.
El Comercio says investigators are checking whether they used the river to get away. Police found no working cameras inside or outside the pavilion, Expreso reports, and El Comercio speaks of camera faults.
Who the Escaped Inmates Are
Police information cited by Expreso and El Comercio says three of the six were serving sentences or facing trial for rape. The other three were held for murder, robbery and possession of illegal drugs.
Those not yet convicted remain legally presumed innocent of the charges against them. Police have nonetheless released their names in a public alert and asked people to help find them.
Investigators are looking at possible links to organized crime, El Comercio and Expreso report. No official has tied the six to a specific gang.
The Search Around Santo Domingo
The alert reached ECU 911, Ecuador’s emergency line, early on Monday morning. Police and the armed forces then sealed off the area and launched drone flights, according to El Comercio, Expreso and El Universo.
Primicias reports that patrols were stepped up in the Este, Oeste and La Concordia police districts. It adds that the police officers on duty at the time will be placed at the disposal of the authorities.
The SNAI, the national agency that runs Ecuador’s prisons, said it had activated its security protocols at once, according to El Universo. The agency added that a team is working with the National Police to find and recapture the six.
Police have asked anyone with information to call 1800 DELITO (335486) and promise that callers’ identities will be protected. Expreso and El Comercio report a reward plan, but no amount has been published.
Why Washington Watches Ecuador’s Prisons
Ecuador’s prison security matters beyond its borders because of the gangs Washington is targeting. In September 2025, the US State Department designated two of them, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
That label lets US prosecutors charge anyone who gives the groups money or other support. It also ties Ecuador’s prison security to US counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism policy.
The six escapees from the Santo Domingo prison have not been linked to either group. Still, an escape from a maximum-security wing shows how hard it remains for Ecuador to control its prisons.
What It Means for You
The US State Department rates Ecuador as a whole at Level 2, which means travellers should exercise increased caution. It puts Santo Domingo province at Level 3 and tells Americans to reconsider travel there because of terrorism and crime.
Travellers who must cross the province should follow local news and expect police checks. Anyone who sees one of the escaped inmates should call the police rather than approach them.
What Is Not Known
The exact time of the escape is unclear. Primicias puts it at about 3 a.m., while Expreso says the alert reached ECU 911 at about 7:30 a.m.
Officials have not said how the men broke through the walls unnoticed, or whether guards or other inmates helped them. The size of the reward is not public, and no recapture had been reported by Monday night.
More: Ecuador news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Santo Domingo prison in Ecuador?
Six inmates escaped from the maximum-security wing of the Santo Domingo prison early on Monday 12 October 2026. Police say they broke through a cell wall, moved along a pipe duct and made a second opening at the back of the building.
Are the escaped inmates linked to Los Choneros or Los Lobos?
No official has linked the men who fled the Santo Domingo prison to a specific gang. Police say they were held for rape, murder, robbery and drug possession, and investigators are checking possible ties to organized crime.
Is it safe to travel to Santo Domingo, Ecuador?
The US State Department tells Americans to reconsider travel to Santo Domingo province because of terrorism and crime. Ecuador as a whole is at Level 2, which means exercise increased caution.
How can people report the escaped inmates?
Ecuador’s National Police ask people to call 1800 DELITO (335486) or use the QR code in their public alert. They say callers’ identities will be protected.
Sources: US Department of State, Ecuador Travel Advisory, accessed 13 October 2026; Federal Register, Foreign Terrorist Organization Designation of Los Choneros and Los Lobos, 5 September 2025; El Universo (SNAI statement and National Police alert), 12 October 2026; El Comercio, 12 October 2026; Primicias, 12 October 2026; Expreso, 12 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief