On June 3, 2026, Ecuadorian police discovered eight bodies wrapped in plastic bags near Babahoyo, a known hotspot for narco-trafficking. This grim finding occurred amid the ongoing military campaign supported by the U.S. against organized crime gangs, escalating violence in a once safe South American nation.

These eight individuals had gone missing on Sunday while traveling from Daule to Milagro. The victims, some of whom were related, remain unidentified. A note left at the crime scene indicated they were targeted by the Los Lobos gang, amidst its conflict with the rival group, Los Choneros.

Los Lobos and Los Choneros are Ecuador’s prominent drug and extortion gangs with international cartel connections. The U.S. labeled Los Lobos a terrorist organization in September. Two minors were among those missing; families described them as farmers from the rice-rich area of Daule.

Ecuador is a key transit country for approximately 70% of cocaine from Colombia and Peru. The drug trade has ignited widespread violence, especially in port cities like Guayaquil and Manta, which serve as smuggling routes. Earlier this year, six youths were found dead after a motorbike excursion in neighboring Santa Elena province.

In 2025, Ecuador experienced over 9,200 violent deaths, marking a record high. President Daniel Noboa, aligned with former U.S. President Trump, has enforced curfews and dispatched military forces to curb gang influence. American and Ecuadorian troops are conducting joint missions to dismantle narco-terrorist operations along the coast.

Despite the recapture in June 2025 of Adolfo Macías, leader of Los Choneros, gang violence persists. Macías was extradited to the U.S. in July 2025, where he faces drug trafficking and firearms charges. The fight against drug gangs remains the government’s priority.