Twelve people were shot dead during a violent attack at a cockfighting ring in rural Ecuador, in what authorities suspect was a targeted strike linked to ongoing gang rivalries. The mass shooting occurred in the community of La Valencia, located in the northwestern Manabí province, an area increasingly affected by organized crime and drug-related violence.
According to law enforcement officials, four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack. Weapons and fake military uniforms mimicking those worn by police and army personnel were discovered during follow-up raids. These items are believed to have been used by the gunmen to disguise themselves and gain access to the venue without arousing suspicion.
Videos circulating online captured the moment of the assault. The footage showed several armed individuals storming the cockfighting arena, opening fire indiscriminately as panic-stricken spectators scrambled to escape. Chaos erupted as people dived for cover, while others attempted to flee the scene amid the barrage of gunfire.
Preliminary reports suggest that the gunmen were affiliated with a criminal organization targeting rival gang members who were present at the cockfight. Authorities believe this brazen attack was a calculated move in an ongoing turf war among various criminal groups competing for dominance over key drug trafficking routes through Ecuador.
The province of Manabí has become a focal point in the country’s escalating drug war, with criminal gangs using rural and urban areas alike to conduct illicit operations. As the violence spreads, public spaces like cockfighting arenas are becoming battlegrounds, placing civilians at greater risk.
Investigations are underway, with officials launching a full-scale criminal inquiry into the incident. Security forces continue to search for additional suspects and aim to uncover the full scope of the criminal network behind the attack.
Ecuador is currently grappling with a surge in drug-related violence, a crisis largely fueled by its strategic geographic position. Nestled between Colombia and Peru the world’s largest producers of cocaine Ecuador has become a crucial transit point for drug shipments heading to the United States and Europe.
It is estimated that roughly 70% of the world’s cocaine supply now flows through Ecuadorian ports. This has transformed the country into a hotbed for narco-trafficking and organized crime. As drug cartels fight for control over lucrative smuggling routes, violence has spiraled out of control, affecting not just rival gangs but innocent civilians as well.
The severity of the crisis was highlighted earlier this year when Ecuador recorded 781 murders in January alone, marking it as the bloodiest month in recent history. Authorities have attributed a large portion of these killings to disputes among criminal groups involved in the drug trade.
In response, the government has ramped up security measures, deploying military and police forces in high-risk areas. However, the growing sophistication of criminal organizationse videnced by the use of fake uniforms and coordinated attacks poses a significant challenge to law enforcement efforts.
The massacre at the cockfighting ring is just one in a series of violent episodes that illustrate the dangerous intersection between cultural traditions and criminal exploitation. As investigations continue, there are renewed calls for stronger national and international cooperation to combat drug trafficking and restore public safety in Ecuador.
