A seaside beach in southwestern Ecuador caused a sensation when five human heads were found hanging from wooden poles with ropes. Police confirmed the gruesome incident on Sunday. Photos released by local media showed the horrific scene of the bloodied heads. A warning message was also left near the heads, reportedly targeting extortionists from fishermen in the port city of Puerto Lopez.
According to preliminary police reports, the incident is the result of an ongoing conflict between rival criminal gangs. Officials said international drug trafficking gangs are active in the area, using fishermen and their small boats to transport drugs. Puerto Lopez, located in Manabi province, has long been a hotbed of violence over control of drug trafficking routes. Just two weeks ago, a massacre in the same area left six people dead, prompting increased surveillance by security agencies.
Despite this, the violence did not stop. Three days later, another armed attack in the city of Manta, also in the Manabí province, claimed the lives of six people. Ecuador has been experiencing severe violence for the past four years. The country has become a major hub for the storage and distribution of drugs coming from the northern border of Colombia and the southern border of Peru. According to official figures, 2025 was the most violent year in Ecuador’s history, with more than 9,000 murders recorded. The latest incident has once again raised serious questions about the country’s security system and the growing influence of the drug mafia.