In a bizarre raid, Ecuadorean security forces seized pigs, fighting cocks and several weapons from a high-security prison in Santo Domingo, the country’s military announced on Friday.
The authorities also removed 12 fighting cocks, 26 bladed weapons, 16 electrical items, and other objects from the prison wing, according to a tweet by Ecuador’s military. The tweet included images of the confiscated animals and weapons.
It is unclear how the inmates managed to smuggle the pigs and cocks into the prison, which is supposed to have strict security measures. The military did not provide any details on the origin or purpose of the animals and weapons.
Ecuador’s prisons are notorious for their poor conditions and violence, which have led to the deaths of hundreds of inmates in recent years. In February, at least 79 prisoners were killed in riots at four prisons across the country, in what authorities described as a power struggle between rival gangs.
The government has vowed to reform the prison system and crack down on corruption and smuggling within the jails. The raid on Friday was part of an ongoing operation to restore order and security in the prisons.
