Ecuador in Crisis: Gang Violence Claims 12 Lives at Cockfighting Event
April 2025
Ecuador is reeling after a brutal assault at a rural cockfighting event left 12 people dead, shedding light on the country’s escalating gang violence fueled by international drug trafficking networks.
The massacre occurred in the rural community of La Valencia, in Manabí province, when heavily armed gunmen stormed a cockfighting ring and opened fire on spectators. Eyewitness footage shared across social media shows scenes of chaos as people fled for their lives. According to police reports, the attackers were dressed in replica military and police uniforms, likely to deceive security forces and bypass local controls.
Criminal Ties and Arrests
Ecuadorian police swiftly responded, conducting raids that resulted in four arrests and the seizure of weapons and fake uniforms. Authorities suspect the perpetrators were members of a criminal organization targeting rivals present at the event. A full-scale criminal investigation is underway, led by provincial and federal authorities.
The attack highlights Ecuador’s worsening security crisis, where violent drug gangs have taken control of strategic routes used to traffic cocaine from neighboring Colombia and Peru, the world's top producers.
Ecuador: The New Cocaine Highway
Once regarded as one of Latin America’s safest destinations, Ecuador has become a major transit hub for the global cocaine trade. President Daniel Noboa recently stated that up to 70% of the world’s cocaine is now funneled through Ecuadorian ports before being shipped to the United States and Europe.
This drug influx has emboldened local and foreign cartels, including the Albanian mafia, which has established a significant presence in the country. According to firsthand accounts, corrupt officials, including police officers, are being recruited to facilitate the operations of these powerful cartels. One gang member, using the pseudonym César, revealed that refusal to cooperate with the mafia can mean certain death.
A Deadly Trend: Record-Breaking Violence
The surge in organized crime has had devastating consequences for Ecuadorians. In January 2025 alone, the country recorded 781 murders, marking it as the deadliest month in recent history. The year 2023 ended with a staggering 8,000 violent deaths, placing Ecuador above Mexico and Colombia in homicide rates.
In a chilling episode earlier this year, armed men took over a live TV broadcast, while simultaneous riots, kidnappings, and bombings broke out across major cities. The wave of terror led President Noboa to declare a state of emergency, which recently ended, although the government has maintained a state of “internal armed conflict”, granting the military extended powers to combat gangs.
Referendum on Security: Ecuador at a Crossroads
In response to growing public pressure, President Noboa has proposed a referendum scheduled for April 21, where Ecuadorians will vote on key security reforms. These include stricter gun control laws, harsher sentencing for gang members, and expanded military involvement in law enforcement.
The outcome of this vote could significantly shape Ecuador’s path forward. As violence continues to claim innocent lives, including those simply attending community events like cockfights, the urgency for meaningful reform has never been greater.