On January 11, 2026, beachgoers in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador—a popular whale-watching spot in Manabi province—discovered five severed human heads hanging from ropes tied to wooden posts along the beach. A wooden sign nearby warned extortionists targeting local fishermen: “The town belongs to us. Keep robbing fishermen and demanding vaccine cards, we already have you identified,” referring to protection payments demanded by gangs.
Gang Violence Context
Police attribute the display to territorial disputes between rival drug trafficking groups, including factions of Los Choneros, amid Ecuador’s escalating organized crime wave. Victims, aged 20-34 and reported missing earlier that week, include Ángel Mero Muñoz (34), Jorge Quijije (22), Anthony Anchundia (20), Bernardo Medranda (24, with a criminal record for weapons), and Daniel Reyes; their bodies remain unfound.
The area has seen prior bloodshed, including a December 2025 massacre killing nine, including a baby, on the same beach.
Ongoing Response
Authorities have cordoned the site, intensified patrols under a state of emergency in nine provinces, and launched a manhunt. President Daniel Noboa’s military-backed crackdown continues, but violence persists as cartels vie for coastal smuggling routes using local fishing boats.
