Luxury Building With Elevator and Pool Raided in Guasmo Sur

A five-story luxury building with an elevator and swimming pool stood in the middle of one of southern Guayaquil’s poorest and most dangerous areas. Police raided the property in the Mariuxi Febres Cordero cooperative, in Guasmo Sur, believing it housed members of the Mafia 18 criminal organization.

The raid formed part of Operation Apolo 29, launched early Friday, September 4, across the South, Esteros, Portete, 9 de Octubre, Modelo and Durán districts. Eight people inside the building were arrested, but the alleged Mafia 18 leader known as “La R” escaped capture.

“We continue searching for the main leaders of these structures. Alias ‘La R’ is the one who provides logistics to these different organized-crime groups,” National Police commander Pablo Dávila Maldonado said.

Police carried out 100 interventions with more than 300 personnel from investigative, intelligence and air-police units, as well as the CRAC and canine teams. The operation targeted groups linked to Los Lagartos-Anclas, Tiguerones, Freddy Kruger, Latin King, Águilas, Lobos, Mafia 18, Carniceros and Choneros.

In Portete, officers arrested two people and seized about 200 kilograms of marijuana from a property allegedly used to store and sell controlled substances. In Pascuales, police detained a man allegedly connected to Los Lobos and found a firearm and four cartridges. Across the operation, authorities reported 20 arrests, including 17 men and three women, and six people held for questioning. Seized evidence included 18 firearms, 92 rounds of ammunition, seven magazines, 104 blocks and 381 doses of controlled substances, 51 slabs of marijuana, 10 vehicles and 17 motorcycles. Police also reported finding flavored marijuana.

“

We continue searching for the main leaders of these structures. Alias ‘La R’ is the one who provides logistics to these different organized-crime groups.