Murder of Ecuadorean candidate ‘planned from jail’

The murder of an Ecuadorean presidential candidate last year was planned from inside a maximum-security prison, according to authorities.

Security forces in Ecuador said the killing of opposition leader Edgar Salazar was orchestrated by a convicted drug trafficker who was serving a 35-year prison sentence.

Salazar was shot dead in May 2020 while he was campaigning in the central province of Cotopaxi. The murder shocked the country and raised concerns about political violence.

Investigators said the convicted drug trafficker communicated with criminal gang members outside the prison to carry out the murder. They believe the motive for the killing was Salazar’s anti-corruption stance and his criticism of organized crime.

The authorities have arrested several suspects in connection with the murder, including the alleged mastermind behind the plot. They are also investigating possible links to other criminal organizations.

Ecuadorian officials have condemned the murder and vowed to bring all those responsible to justice. The case has underscored the challenges of tackling political violence and organized crime in the country.