Five decapitated human heads were discovered on a beach in Puerto López, Ecuador, on Sunday. Police have identified the victims as men who had been reported missing days prior. This discovery occurs amidst a documented increase in gang violence across the country, which authorities attribute to organized crime groups linked to international drug cartels.
Incident Details
On Sunday, police reported the discovery of five human heads displayed on a tourist beach in Puerto López, Ecuador. Social media images showed the heads secured with ropes to two wooden posts on the beach, a location known for whale watching.
A wooden board found near the remains contained a message. The message issued threats to gang members involved in extorting "protection payments," locally known as "vaccine cards," from fishermen and stated, "The town belongs to us. Keep robbing fishermen and demanding vaccine cards, we already have you identified."
Police identified the remains as belonging to five men, aged between 20 and 34, who had been reported missing days earlier. One of the identified individuals had a criminal record for gun possession. The bodies associated with the heads have not yet been located.
Context of Surging Violence
This incident takes place against a backdrop of escalating gang violence throughout Ecuador. The Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime reported 2025 as the country's most violent year on record, with a homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 inhabitants. Separately, the interior ministry recorded 9,176 murders in 2025.
Since 2021, Ecuador has experienced a notable increase in criminal violence. This surge is attributed to local criminal organizations reportedly forming alliances with Colombian and Mexican drug cartels. These groups are engaged in drug trafficking and smuggling, exploiting Ecuador's geographical position between Colombia and Peru, both significant cocaine-producing nations, which has established it as a major transit hub for illegal drugs. The gangs also enforce "protection money" from local businesses and individuals, attacking those who refuse.
Prior Events and Government Response
Puerto López has been the site of previous violent incidents. In December, a shooting at the same beach resulted in six fatalities, including a two-year-old child, and three injuries. Another shooting on the previous day killed three individuals. Police indicated these events were outcomes of territorial disputes between rival factions of the Los Choneros gang, while a separate report attributed the December incident to clashes between local gangs.
The Los Choneros gang has been identified as a key contributor to the violence in Ecuador. The U.S. State Department designated the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in September. Its former leader, known as "Fito," was extradited to the United States in July of the previous year.
President Daniel Noboa has publicly committed to combating the criminal organizations operating within Ecuador. Despite two years of military operations aimed at curbing the violence, the situation has continued to escalate.