What started as a rowdy night at a cockfighting ring in rural Ecuador turned into a horror show.
Gunmen in fake military uniforms stormed the arena in La Valencia, opened fire, and left 12 people dead.
The chaos? Caught on video and shared widely, showing terrified spectators scrambling for their lives.
Now, four suspects are in custody, and police have seized weapons along with replica police and army gear.
Who’s Behind This?
Authorities suspect a criminal gang targeting rivals attending the event.
A provincial investigation is underway, but this isn’t just a local crime—it’s a symptom of a much bigger problem.
Ecuador has become a battleground for narco gangs—around 20 of them—jostling for dominance over key drug routes.
President Daniel Noboa recently stated that a staggering 70% of the world’s cocaine now passes through Ecuador’s ports.
The drugs are enroute to markets in the US and Europe.
The country’s location, sandwiched between top cocaine producers Colombia and Peru, makes it prime real estate for traffickers.
And the violence? Off the charts.
This January alone saw 781 murders—many tied to the drug trade.
Cockfights may be brutal, but in Ecuador, the real fight is happening far beyond the ring—and it’s deadly serious.
