12.01.2026 12:40
The discovery of five human heads hanging from ropes on a beach in Puerto López, one of Ecuador's tourism centers, has shocked the country. The police stated that the incident may be linked to conflicts between drug gangs, while the country recorded its bloodiest year in history in 2025 with over 9,000 murders.
Violence among drug gangs in Ecuador has come back to the forefront with new images targeting tourist centers. The police announced that five human heads were found hanging by ropes on a beach in Puerto López, Manabí province.
HEADS HUNG ON THE BEACH, THREAT MESSAGE LEFT
Images reflected in the local press showed that the heads were hung on the beach with ropes tied to wooden poles. It was reported that there was also a warning sign containing threats against individuals allegedly extorting fishermen at the scene.
POLICE: GANG CONFLICT SUSPECTED
In the police report, it was assessed that the incident could be related to conflicts between criminal organizations, and it was reported that many more people lost their lives in attacks at different locations around Puerto López over the weekend.
2025 WAS THE "BLOODIEST YEAR"
As violence has escalated in Ecuador in recent years due to gang wars over drug trafficking routes, it was recorded that more than 9,000 murders occurred in 2025, marking the highest level in the country's history.