Four Arrested After Deadly Cockfight Shooting in Ecuador

Following a horrific shooting at a cockfighting event in Ecuador that resulted in 12 fatalities, authorities have arrested four suspects linked to the criminal act. The incident highlights the ongoing violence associated with drug gangs in the region, as investigations reveal the attackers may have been targeting rival gang members.

Police in Ecuador have apprehended four individuals following a devastating shooting at a cockfighting ring that left 12 spectators dead. The incident occurred on Friday in the rural community of La Valencia, located in the north-western province of Manabí. During subsequent police raids, officials confiscated firearms and imitation police and military uniforms, further indicating that the attackers were likely members of a criminal gang.

Eyewitness footage shared on social media captured the harrowing moment as armed assailants stormed the venue, causing chaos as attendees sought safety. Local media reports suggest that the incident was a targeted assault against rival gang members attending the event.

Provincial authorities have launched a criminal investigation as the threat of gang violence continues to escalate in Ecuador. Reports indicate that approximately 20 gangs are vying for control over major drug trafficking routes within the country. Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has remarked that around 70% of the world's cocaine is trafficked through Ecuador's ports destined for both the United States and Europe.

The narcotics are primarily smuggled from neighboring Colombia and Peru, the world's two largest cocaine producers. The country has witnessed an alarming increase in violence, with January alone recording 781 murders, marking it as the deadliest month in recent years, much of which can be attributed to conflicts surrounding the drug trade.

Experts are currently examining the evolving dynamics of drug trafficking routes to Europe and the implications on Ecuador, a nation historically viewed as a tourist destination now grappling with rampant gang violence.