Archive · 12 Jan 2026
Five Heads Found on Ecuador Beach Amid Gang Violence
Five human heads were found hanging on a beach in Ecuador.
This happened because there is a lot of fighting between criminal groups who want to control the area for drug trafficking.
The beach is in a small fishing town called Puerto Lopez.
The police think the heads were put there to send a message to people who are trying to extort money from fishermen.
Ecuador has been very violent lately, with more than 9,000 murders in 2025.
The government has declared a state of emergency in many parts of the country to try to stop the violence.
Five human heads were found hanging on a beach in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador.
The incident is linked to a conflict between criminal groups over drug-trafficking routes.
A warning sign directed at alleged extortionists of fishermen was found near the heads.
Ecuador is experiencing a wave of violence, with over 9,000 homicides in 2025.
A state of emergency has been enforced in nine of Ecuador's 24 provinces.
- Who
- Police and criminal groups in Ecuador
- What
- Five human heads found hanging on a beach
- When
- Sunday
- Where
- Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
- Why
- Conflict between criminal groups over drug-trafficking routes
- Location
- Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
- Date
- Sunday
- Number of Heads
- Five
- Cause
- Conflict between criminal groups
- State of Emergency
- Nine of Ecuador's 24 provinces
- Homicides in 2025
- More than 9,000
- Homicides in 2023
- 8,248