Ecuadoran police have confirmed the discovery of eight bodies in plastic bags on the outskirts of Babahoyo. The victims are believed to be among eight people who went missing on Sunday while traveling between Daule and Milagro.
Col. Galo Munoz, the area's police chief, told reporters that eight bodies were found. A note left at the scene indicated the victims were targeted by the Los Lobos gang amid its conflict with the rival Los Choneros group. The missing individuals, some of them related, included two minors who were farmers from the rice-growing region of Daule. State prosecutor Modesto Freire confirmed their identities remain unknown. The discovery occurs during a U.S.-backed military operation against organized crime gangs in Ecuador. Los Lobos was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in September. Ecuador has seen rising violence linked to drug trafficking, with over 9,200 violent deaths recorded last year. The country serves as a key transit point for cocaine from Colombia and Peru.
