Inhabitants of Muisne attacked two subjects implicated in assault on fishermen

Esmeraldas

A group of residents of the Muisne canton, in the south of the Esmeraldas province, physically attacked two alleged criminals who were captured along with four other people, on the afternoon of this Tuesday 26.

The incident occurred after his capture by Marine Corps personnel about eight miles off Mompiche. The navals mobilized to that area after receiving a complaint about artisanal fishermen who were being assaulted.

When the military arrived to hand over the detainees to the Police, in the Nuevo Muisne sector, they were intercepted by residents who tried to take them away to lynch them.

At this site, two of the six suspects were injured with stones and blows, forcing the naval officers to transfer them to the Quingue compound.

In this town, another group of people was waiting for the detainees with the intention of doing justice by their own hands, but uniformed National Police officers and locals prevented further attacks against those apprehended.

Given the reports of robberies at sea, Julio Vega, a fisherman, said that his colleagues have lost their lives and others are still missing. Added to this is the theft of outboard motors and boats by criminals at sea.

Andy Vásquez, political lieutenant of the Galera parish, said that the detainees were not found firearms.

In the opinion of Maura Oviedo, president of the Esmeraldas Chamber of Fisheries, fishermen do not report these thefts for fear of reprisals or because they distrust the judicial system.

For its part, the Navy’s Coast Guard Subcommand maintains coastal maritime surveillance. (I)