Seven killed in Ecuador during cockfights during war between drug gangs

Seven people were killed on Sunday in an armed attack in Samborondón, a coastal province plagued by a brutal turf war over drug trafficking, local police said on Monday.

At least eight armed assailants opened fire at a clandestine cockfight attended by about 200 people, according to Dennis Cárdenas, deputy head of the police homicide investigation unit (DINASED).

The incident resulted in “seven deaths and three injuries,” Cárdenas confirmed to the press.

The attack took place in Samborondón, located about 30 kilometers northwest of Guayaquil, a major Pacific port strategically positioned for drug trafficking to American and European markets.

Earlier, police announced on social media that “special units are investigating on the spot to determine the causes and arrest those responsible for the massacre.”

Authorities have not yet clarified whether the incident was a targeted attack or a robbery. Local media reported that a group armed with assault rifles targeted the site, located in a predominantly rural area where illegal cockfights are regularly held.

Ecuador’s murder rate has risen alarmingly, from six murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2018 to 43 per 100,000 in 2023, highlighting the escalating violence in the country.

Ecuador, once a peaceful oasis in Latin America, has transformed into a crucial drug trafficking hub, located between Colombia and Peru – two countries known for their significant cocaine production. The country of 17 million people is now the scene of brutal clashes between gangs linked to international cartels battling for control of the lucrative drug trade.