In a recent operation carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (Unase) in Manabí, Ecuador, police successfully dismantled an extortion network that was operating from the El Rodeo prison. The operation, dubbed Libertad 164, was initiated following a complaint from a local merchant who had been receiving threatening calls and messages demanding $15,000, with ominous warnings directed towards him and his family.

The investigation revealed that the extortion was coordinated from inside the penitentiary, where three individuals played a key role in orchestrating the threats. Their actions were complemented by a female accomplice who was responsible for carrying out the demands outside prison. The police performed simultaneous interventions in the Cielito Lindo area of Manta and at the Social Rehabilitation Center El Rodeo in Portoviejo, highlighting the collaborative effort to combat organized crime in the region.

Major Jaime Salgado reported that the suspects had been intimidating the local businessman for months, exploiting his vulnerability to extract money under threat of violence. This incident underscores the pervasive issue of extortion in Ecuador, particularly as it relates to criminal activities orchestrated from within prisons, raising concerns about the safety of merchants and the efficiency of law enforcement in addressing such crimes.