On June 3, 2026, Ecuadorian police announced the grim discovery of eight bodies wrapped in plastic bags in a region known for narco-trafficking. These bodies were located on the outskirts of Babahoyo, a town beset by organized crime-related violence. The report came from Col. Galo Munoz, the local police chief.
The incident coincides with ongoing U.S.-supported military initiatives aimed at dismantling organized crime groups that have turned Ecuador from a relatively peaceful nation into one of the most dangerous in South America.
Last Sunday, eight individuals went missing while traveling from Daule to Milagro, approximately 30 miles from Babahoyo. Interior Minister John Reimberg has indicated that an ominous note found at the scene linked the murders to the Los Lobos gang, known to be in conflict with the rival Los Choneros group.
“It has been confirmed that there are eight bodies found on the outskirts of the town of Babahoyo,” said Col. Galo Munoz.
Los Lobos and Los Choneros are prominent drug trafficking and extortion gangs in Ecuador, with international cartel connections. The United States labeled Los Lobos a terrorist organization last September.
Modesto Freire, Milagro’s state prosecutor, mentioned that two of the missing were minors. Their families described them as farmers from Daule, an area known for rice cultivation.
Ecuador serves as a crucial transit point for cocaine heading to international markets. Around 70% of the cocaine comes from Colombia and Peru, leading producers of this illicit drug. The competition for drug trade dominance has significantly increased violence, especially in port cities like Guayaquil and Manta where smuggling is rampant.
Earlier this year, six young individuals were discovered dead after a motorbike ride in Santa Elena province, adjacent to Guayaquil’s province, Guayas. These incidents contribute to the high violent death toll in Ecuador, which reached over 9,200 last year, a national record.
President Daniel Noboa, a right-wing leader allied with former U.S. President Trump, has enforced curfews and deployed military forces in various provinces to counteract gang activities. American commandos partnered with Ecuadorian troops in a mission to dismantle a suspected narco-terrorist hub along the coast.
In March, joint military operations commenced between the U.S. and Ecuador against recognized terrorist outfits. Despite efforts, gang violence continues to plague Ecuador. This follows the June 2025 re-arrest of Adolfo Macías, leader of Los Choneros, who had previously escaped from a maximum-security prison. By July 2025, Macías was extradited to the U.S. facing drug trafficking and firearms charges.
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