Why Ecuador Is Erupting With Narco Gang Violence: QuickTake

Ecuador’s intensifying war with narcotics gangs spilled into the open in January. In just a few days, two notorious drug lords escaped from jail, uprisings broke out in multiple prisons in which inmates took guards as hostages, and a TV station was overrun by masked gunmen in a scene that was broadcast live. The mayhem highlighted Ecuador’s rapid descent from tranquil tourist destination to war zone — and one of the most dangerous places in the world.

1. What’s happening in Ecuador?

The latest violence broke out after gang leader Adolfo Macías disappeared from his prison cell on Jan. 7. ...