8 bodies found in plastic bags with note left at scene in narco-trafficking hotspot in Ecuador
CBS News • • world
Key Points:
- Eight bodies were discovered in plastic bags near Babahoyo, Ecuador, where eight people had gone missing while traveling between Daule and Milagro, authorities confirmed.
- A note found at the scene indicated the victims were targeted by the Los Lobos gang amid its violent conflict with rival group Los Choneros, both major drug trafficking organizations linked to international cartels.
- The discovery occurs amid a U.S.-backed military crackdown on organized crime in Ecuador, which has seen a surge in violence due to its role as a key transit point for cocaine from Colombia and Peru.
- Ecuador recorded over 9,200 violent deaths last year, prompting President Daniel Noboa to impose curfews and deploy military forces in affected provinces to combat gang activity.
- Recent joint operations between U.S. and Ecuadorian forces aim to dismantle narco-terrorist organizations, reflecting increased international cooperation to address the escalating drug-related violence.