Drug gangs in Ecuador turn to “death saint” for protection — and allegedly human sacrifices | Global News Avenue

Sports gloves and red ribbons to resist evil, Ecuador Police raided drug siege and severed inspection of altar Holy Death – The Mexican “Death Saint” adopted by the local gang is their own amulet.

The weird statue of the skeleton shrouded in the cape – the sickle on the right and the Earth on the left – is the latest statue of the rapidly growing Christmas Murtle Shrine found in the crime hideout in the western city of Duran.

The gangsters seeking the protection of the saints piled up at her feet, offering money, tobacco, alcohol, figurines and religious utensils.

Duran police Colonel Roberto Santamaria told AFP: “Believe that when they entrust themselves to this St. Murtle, they will not be caught or they will achieve their goals,” he said. Because Santa will take care of them.”

Sometimes, the product is even more sinister.

A former gang member told AFP that some colleagues are also well known.

“They stole children from other towns and sacrificed them before her when they wanted to hit hard (Christmas Moult),” the man said.

Saints of health and protection

Also known as the skinny lady or white girl, Santa is the guardian of recovery and protection, and thousands of Latinos pray to her to safely lead to the afterlife.

Dating back to the 18th century in Mexico, where the saints won followers of the poison ord. In Mexico last November, there were two women and a boy Shoot to death on the altar Until the holy death.

The saints have been recently adopted by Ecuadorian traffickers and killers in Duran, a city occupied by drug gangs that ransom and intimidate locals.

In addition to serving on the altar, the gang members also tattooed similarities on the saint’s arms and wore amulets with her image around her neck.

Santa Claus came from Mexico about six years ago when Ecuadorian gang Los Choneros was trained by the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, which Sinaloa Cartel also diverted his otherworldly beliefs.

Duran’s police estimate that they have found the altar of the saint in about six of every 10 busts in 2024.

Los Choneros, one of 20 criminal gangs announced by Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, seeks reelection on Sunday as he leads a drug gang War, the charges were a surge in suspected violent crimes in once peaceful South American countries.

Just last week, the leader of Los Lobos, one of Ecuador’s largest criminal groups, was Arrested at his home In the coastal city of Portoviejo. this Last year, the United States announced Los Lobos Become the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador.

Noboa has announced State of emergency and deployment of troops In prisons for street and violent behavior, the homicide rate fell slightly in 2024 compared to the previous year. The President took action last year The gunman rushed in and fired In television studios and in bandits, it is threatened to randomly execute civilians and security forces. Prosecutors who investigated the attack later Shoot to deathEssence

Officers are afraid to work around the altar

Duran and the nearby city of Guayaquil are at the center of violence in Ecuador, partly because they are getting closer to ports, increasingly sending cocaine to Europe and the United States neighbors Peru and Colombia – The world’s highest drug producer.

Like Mexico, Ecuador is a largely Catholic country, and the church condemns the practice of portraying death as a personality, such as Santa.

However, most Ecuadorians have no problem reconciling the two, and Santa is adopted by a wider society, and is described in the market and even online.

This prompted observers to worry that people with Santa’s belongings could be mistakenly marked as gangsters in a situation where the government suppresses the government.

“People have been criminalized because of race, because they are poor, and now they will also be criminalized for popular customs,” Cristina Burneo, an Ecuadorian social researcher, told AFP. “” “

Santamaria said that to further prove the scope of the saint, many of his officers were afraid to work around the altar.

“Police told me they had a headache, they started to feel nauseous and dizzy,” he said, although he personally did not believe in the power of the saints.

Police investigating crime scenes or conducting searches will not destroy Christmas statues they encounter unless there is evidence that they contain drugs or ammunition.

“In Ecuador, there is freedom of worship that anyone can have, and it is not a crime,” Santamaria said.