ECUADOR Young gang member was abducted by his rivals to a remote location, where they mercilessly executed him with several machete blows to the head.
Ecuador is experiencing a significant surge in violence linked to drug cartels and local gangs fighting for control over cocaine trafficking. In 2025, the murder rate increased by 40%, including massacres in bars and prison riots. The fragmentation of gangs after leaders are arrested leads to further clashes, and despite military interventions, the security situation remains unstable.
The incident clearly highlights the dangers of involvement with criminal organizations and cartels. Even minimal association, such as buying drugs, can be life-threatening. These groups show no respect for human life; a person is valued only for how useful they are to the organization.
