Ecuador Judge Orders 43 Detained at 'Narcofiesta' into Preventive Custody

A judge in Ecuador has ordered 43 individuals arrested at a 'narcofiesta' in Guayaquil, the country's most populous city, into preventive detention. The arrests took place in the Ciudad de Dios sector of Nueva Prosperina, an area known for high levels of violence.

The group was allegedly celebrating the birthday of a man identified by the alias 'Cheo,' who is believed to be a leader within Los Águilas, a faction of the powerful Los Choneros criminal group. The detention of these individuals is part of a broader crackdown on organized crime within Ecuador.

While the Minister of Defense initially reported fifteen arrests, the Prosecutor's Office confirmed the processing of 43 individuals, all believed to be affiliated with the Los Águilas gang. This gang has been designated as "terrorist" by President Daniel Noboa's administration as part of the ongoing "internal armed conflict" aimed at combating organized crime.

Despite the government's intensified efforts and the declaration of an internal armed conflict, Ecuador experienced a record number of homicides in 2025, with 9,282 murders recorded. This translates to a homicide rate exceeding 50 per 100,000 inhabitants, placing it among the highest in Latin America.