Two bodies found during Ecuador police operation; four arrested

Two bodies were discovered during a police operation in the Santa Elena canton of Ecuador on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The find occurred following the arrest of four adults and the detention of a minor, who are believed to be connected to the violent incident.

The operation was conducted by agents from the National Directorate for Investigation of Crimes against Life, Violent Deaths, Disappearances, Extortion, and Kidnappings (DINASED) in Santa Elena, in collaboration with preventive units. Police intelligence indicated that three individuals intended to transport and discard two bodies in a peripheral area of the canton, using a motorized tricycle.

Following this information, police intercepted the vehicle. Subsequent searches of several properties led to the discovery of the two bodies, which were packaged and found in a house in the Narcisa de Jesús neighborhood. The bodies have been transferred to the Forensic Pathology Unit for legal and technical procedures to determine the circumstances of their deaths.

During the interventions, authorities seized six firearms, including a submachine gun, three pistols, and a revolver, along with numerous 9-millimeter ammunition rounds. Four mobile phones and various substances subject to control were also confiscated. The four arrested individuals and the detained minor are now in the custody of the competent authorities. Preliminary investigations suggest the incident is linked to a dispute between criminal organizations, a hypothesis that specialized police units will analyze.