A prosecutor investigating a recent attack on the Teleamazonas TV station in Ecuador has been assassinated, authorities confirmed Wednesday. César Suárez, a organized crime prosecutor in Guayas province, was shot multiple times by unknown assailants earlier today in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city.
Background on the Teleamazonas Attack
On January 16th, 2023, several heavily armed individuals stormed the Teleamazonas TV studio in Quito during a live morning broadcast. The assailants opened fire inside the building, killing 3 employees and injuring at least 6 others. They also detonated an explosive device and hijacked a helicopter on the roof to facilitate their escape.
The brazen attack was attributed to a notorious Ecuadorian drug trafficking organization known as “The Cubans”. Ecuador has become a key transit point for Colombian cocaine shipments heading north, and The Cubans have been battling rival groups for control of smuggling routes through the country.
Just one day before his murder, prosecutor Suárez had appealed to Ecuador’s National Court to take over the Teleamazonas investigation given the complexity of the case and involvement of organized crime groups.
Assassination of Prosecutor Suárez
On the morning of January 18th, 2024, César Suárez was intercepted and shot several times by two men on a motorcycle as he drove through Guayaquil. The 40-year old prosecutor was pronounced dead at the scene.
Guayaquil police chief Fausto Buenano reported finding 9mm bullet casings on the ground near Suárez’s vehicle. An expansive investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.
According to Ecuador’s Attorney General, the calculated, targeted nature of this attack points to the likely involvement of organized crime networks:
“We firmly believe this was perpetrated by those implicated in the violent incidents that prosecutor Suárez was investigating, as an act of retaliation and intimidation.”
Reaction from Ecuadorian Officials
President Gabriela de Lucio vowed a swift government response to Suárez’s murder, pledging additional resources to combat organized crime:
“We cannot allow the rule of law to be undermined by violent narco-terrorists without consequences. The full force of our national police and armed forces will be directed towards dismantling these dangerous organizations and bringing these malign actors to justice.”
De Lucio has declared a 30-day state of emergency in Guayas province, which includes the deployment of thousands of military personnel to supplement local law enforcement efforts.
Guayaquil Mayor Cynthia Viteri also issued a statement, slamming what she called the “depraved, malignant corruption orchestrated by drug cartels tearing our communities apart.” Viteri promised residents that Suárez’s death would galvanize rather than deter the city’s anti-crime initiatives.
What Happens to the Teleamazonas Investigation?
With César Suárez assassinated just one day after taking over the probe into the brazen attack, immediate questions center on how the investigation will now proceed.
By law, a replacement prosecutor must be appointed within 72 hours. However, the Attorney General’s office has indicated it may designate a 3-person investigative team given the enormous complexity and priority of the case.
| Possible Replacements for Prosecutor Suárez |
|---|
| Pablo Torres |
| Daniela Quito |
| Jaime Roldos |
Whoever inherits the investigation will be under intense pressure, especially given rampant cartel intimidation and violence against law enforcement in Ecuador. Experts say extensive witness protection will have to be implemented to prevent further attacks.
“Make no mistake – this was meant to terrorize and dissuade those seeking justice for Teleamazonas victims,” warns security analyst Roberto Artieda. “It is now critical for prosecutors to stand firm in the face of these cartel tactics – the integrity of Ecuador’s institutions and rule of law hangs in the balance.”
President De Lucio has also raised the possibility of requesting overseas assistance, given the widespread public shock at assassinated prosecutor Suárez:
“If our partners in the United States or Europe can provide any investigative support or resources that allow us to bring Teleamazonas attackers and Suárez murderers to account, we would gratefully accept such offers.”
Any international aid would likely take the form of forensic auditing assistance, intelligence sharing, and potentially even joint special forces operations against cartel strongholds along the Colombia-Ecuador border.
In the meantime, interim prosecutor(s) will work closely with Guayaquil law enforcement to advance Suárez’s nascent investigation by:
- Interviewing Teleamazonas attack eyewitnesses
- Following up on early forensic evidence from the scene
- Building a dossier on the suspected “Cubans” cartel
- Liaising with military officials on capturing suspects
Outlook Going Forward
César Suárez’s brazen murder represents an alarming escalation by Ecuador’s powerful crime syndicates. Rather than be cowed by cartel violence, President De Lucio has admirably chosen to confront the issue directly by deploying federal forces against regional organized crime.
However, success will depend on officials at all levels displaying solidarity and resolve on anti-cartel initiatives even as violence mounts. Otherwise, the tragic deaths of prosecutor Suárez, the Teleamazonas victims, and countless Ecuadorians threatened by these groups will have been in vain.
Fortunately, in the short term, citizens can find some comfort in the sheer amount of attention brought towards this issue – both domestically and internationally. With the state of emergency in place and possible foreign cooperation on the horizon, cartel intimidation may finally face a reckoning through this high-profile assassination.
Of course, eliminating entrenched narco-trafficking networks will require a sustained, holistic effort addressing both security and socioeconomic issues. But dealt a heavy blow by current operations, the balance of power may shift away from cartels and towards elected government – the ultimate goal of prosecutor Suárez cut down in the line of duty today.
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