Ecuador Arrests Suspected FARC Dissident Collaborator

Ecuadorian authorities have detained a man suspected of collaborating with a dissident faction of the FARC, the former Colombian guerrilla group. Hamilton S., known as "Hamilton," was arrested by the National Police in a health center located in the coastal province of Esmeraldas, which borders Colombia.

The arrest occurred after the suspect sustained injuries during an armed clash between rival criminal organizations. Police investigations suggest this confrontation was related to disputes over territorial control. Hamilton S. is also believed to be a member of the local criminal group "La Carbonera" and had an active arrest warrant for murder.

Ecuador has been grappling with escalating violence since President Daniel Noboa declared a state of "internal armed conflict" in 2024. This declaration aimed to intensify the fight against criminal gangs, which the government has labeled as "terrorists" and linked primarily to drug trafficking and illegal mining. Despite these measures, the country recorded approximately 9,300 homicides in 2025, marking a new record.