Eight bodies were discovered in plastic bags in Babahoyo, Ecuador, following the disappearance of eight individuals on Sunday, local police reported on Wednesday.
Col. Galo Munoz, the police chief of the area, confirmed the finding on the outskirts of Babahoyo. The victims had disappeared while traveling from Daule to Milagro, approximately 30 miles south of Babahoyo.
Interior Minister John Reimberg stated that a note found at the scene indicated the victims were likely targeted by the Los Lobos gang as part of a conflict with the rival Los Choneros gang. None of the victims have been identified yet.
Los Lobos and Los Choneros are prominent drug trafficking and extortion gangs in Ecuador, both connected to international cartels. In September, Los Lobos was designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
Modesto Freire, the state prosecutor in Milagro, noted that two of the missing individuals were minors, reportedly farmers from the rice-growing region of Daule.
Ecuador serves as a significant corridor for 70% of the cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru, leading to increased violence, especially in port cities like Guayaquil and Manta. Last year, Ecuador recorded over 9,200 violent deaths, the highest on record.
In response to escalating gang violence, President Daniel Noboa has imposed curfews and deployed military forces to several provinces. Recently, U.S. commandos participated in joint operations with Ecuadorian troops to combat criminal organizations along the coast.
The fight against organized crime in Ecuador continues amid the aftermath of the recapture of Adolfo Macías, the leader of Los Choneros, who had escaped from prison in 2024. He was extradited to the United States in July 2025, facing multiple drug trafficking and firearms charges.
Source: www.cbsnews.com via Google News.
