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Deadly Attack at Ecuador Cockfight: 12 Killed, Several Injured
An alarming incident unfolded in rural Ecuador on Thursday night when a group of armed assailants, disguised in counterfeit military attire, unleashed gunfire on attendees at a cockfighting event. The tragic outcome was the death of 12 individuals and numerous injuries, as reported by local police on Friday.
Security footage revealed the heart-stopping moment when at least five gunmen stormed the arena, wielding automatic weapons and firing into a crowd gathered at La Valencia, located in Ecuador’s northwest region. The footage, which circulated widely on social media, depicted terrified spectators scrambling for cover beneath seats.
According to police colonel Renan Miller Rivera, the attack underscores the alarming upswing in violence attributed to organized criminal factions. “We have confirmed 12 fatalities from an attack perpetrated by a criminal group. Several other victims sustained injuries,” Miller stated, without specifying the exact number of injured individuals.
Following the violent event, authorities apprehended four suspects, one of whom has been identified as an intermediary figure within a criminal organization known as “Los R7,” as noted by national police chief Victor Hugo Zarate via social media. Subsequently, police reports suggested that these individuals are linked to a broader pattern of violence from Ecuador’s criminal gangs, which have recently operated with impunity.
In the aftermath, investigators discovered discarded military-style uniforms and two abandoned vehicles along a nearby highway, one of which had been set ablaze while the other lay overturned. Authorities also released footage highlighting the recovery of evidence, weapons, and cash linked to the assailants, as well as the arrest of four individuals with blurred identities featured in the video.
In total, police recovered a substantial cache of arms, including eight rifles, four pistols, and three shotguns, alongside tactical gear and cellular devices. This operation reflects the heightened prevalence of armed conflicts driven by the drug trade in Ecuador.
Ecuador is currently grappling with the activities of approximately 20 distinct criminal gangs. These factions, some with flamboyant monikers such as “Los Freddy Kruegers” and “The Peaky Blinders,” are embroiled in crimes including drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping. The country’s geography, situated between Peru and Colombia—the world’s leading cocaine producers—has rendered it particularly vulnerable to the influence of international drug cartels.
Reports suggest that about 73% of the globe’s cocaine transit through Ecuador, further exacerbating the security crisis. In light of increasing violence, President Daniel Noboa recently renewed a state of emergency in various regions of the country.
Noboa’s administration is exploring collaboration with U.S. forces to combat escalating drug violence, including potential legal changes that would enable American military bases to operate within Ecuadoran territory.
This surge in violence has brought international attention to Ecuador’s criminal landscape. Notably, U.S. authorities are targeting notable gang figures, such as the fugitive leader of “Los Cheronos,” who has been indicted in New York City on serious drug trafficking charges. Another prominent criminal, known as “Fito,” escaped from Ecuador’s prison system last year and remains at large.
In recent months, Ecuadorian law enforcement has succeeded in capturing key figures within criminal syndicates, including the second-in-command for “Los Lobos,” a group characterized as the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador by U.S. officials.
As Ecuador navigates this turbulent landscape, the increased violence not only poses direct threats to public safety but also complicates the nation’s longstanding challenges with governance and rule of law.
Source
www.yahoo.com