Ecuador Authorities Investigate Two Grisly Discoveries Amid Escalating Gang Violence
The incidents, involving human remains found in plastic bags and severed heads on a beach, underscore a violent conflict between rival criminal gangs.
"The town belongs to us. Keep robbing fishermen and demanding vaccine cards, we already have you identified."
— Message left at the scene in Puerto López
Discovery in Babahoyo
On Wednesday, police reported the discovery of eight bodies in plastic bags on the outskirts of Babahoyo, a city in the Los Ríos province.
The discovery followed an incident reported on Sunday involving the disappearance of eight individuals traveling from Daule to Milagro, a route approximately 30 miles south of Babahoyo.
According to Interior Minister John Reimberg, a note found at the scene indicated the victims were targeted by the Los Lobos gang as part of its conflict with the rival Los Choneros gang. Families of the missing individuals identified two of the victims as minors and farmers from Daule.
Discovery in Puerto López
On Sunday, police reported that five human heads were discovered on a tourist beach in Puerto López, a coastal town in the Manabí province.
Police identified the remains as belonging to five men, aged between 20 and 34, who had been reported missing days prior. One of the identified individuals had a criminal record. The bodies associated with the heads had not been located as of the time of reporting.
A wooden sign placed near the remains contained a message that issued threats to individuals involved in theft and extortion of local fishermen.
Broader Context of Violence
These incidents are part of a sustained increase in criminal violence in Ecuador, which is situated between Colombia and Peru—two of the world's largest cocaine producers. The country has become a major transit hub for narcotics.
Local criminal organizations, including Los Lobos and Los Choneros, have reportedly formed alliances with international drug cartels from Mexico and Colombia. These gangs are involved in drug smuggling and extortion, enforcing "protection money" payments from local businesses.
The United States designated Los Choneros as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in September. Los Lobos received a similar designation from the United States in September. In March, U.S. military personnel joined Ecuadorian troops in joint operations against criminal groups.
In a related development, in July, drug lord Adolfo Macías (leader of Los Choneros, also known as Fito) was extradited to the United States. Macías had been recaptured in June after escaping from prison in 2024.
Statistical Data
According to the Ecuadorian Interior Ministry and the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime, 2025 was the most violent year in Ecuador's history. Official figures reported over 9,200 violent deaths (with one source citing a homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 inhabitants). President Daniel Noboa has responded by imposing curfews and deploying the military to combat criminal organizations.
Prior Incidents
- In January, police found the bodies of six young people in Santa Elena province.
- On December 28, a shooting in Puerto López resulted in six fatalities, including a two-year-old child, and three injuries. Police stated this event, and an earlier shooting that killed three, were outcomes of a territorial dispute between rival factions of the Los Choneros gang.