HAVANA, January 10. /TASS/. Ecuadorian law enforcement agencies have detained a suspect in the murder of two policemen in the city of Nobol (the Guayas Province), the police reported on its X (formerly Twitter) page.

"As a result of investigative and operational measures, the supposed person responsible for the murder of two of our colleagues in Nobol (the Guayas Province) has been handed over to the competent authorities," the police said.

On January 9, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed a decree recognizing the country's "internal armed conflict" and ordered the neutralization of 22 criminal groups.

The security situation in Ecuador escalated on January 7 after the leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, nicknamed Fito, escaped from prison. This was followed by riots in several prisons. On January 8, Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew.