Beachgoers in Ecuador were confronted with a scene of unimaginable horror over the weekend, as five human heads were discovered hanging from ropes on a popular tourist shore.
A Grisly Discovery in Puerto Lopez
The grisly find was made on Sunday on the picturesque beach in Puerto Lopez, a coastal town in Manabi province. According to police reports, the heads were suspended from ropes fixed to two wooden poles. Images published by local media outlets starkly illustrated the brutality of the act, which authorities have linked directly to the wave of drug-trafficking violence sweeping the nation.
Police stated the display was a clear warning sign from a criminal group. A written message was found near the bloody scene, directed at rivals allegedly planning to extort fishermen at the nearby port. Authorities confirm that transnational cartels active in the area frequently use local fishing boats for illicit activities.
Surge in Violence and State of Emergency
This atrocity underscores a fierce and ongoing dispute over territory and control of lucrative drug-trafficking routes. The incident occurred amidst an enforced state of emergency in nine of Ecuador's 24 provinces, including Manabi. This measure restricts certain civil rights to allow for heightened security operations.
Police controls in Puerto Lopez had already been increased following two recent massacres in the same province. Just two weeks prior, six people were killed, and a further six died in an armed attack three days later. Despite these measures, violence continues to surge. Official figures reveal a staggering 9,000 murders in Ecuador during 2025 alone.
Recent high-profile incidents include:
- An attack on a pool hall in Santo Domingo in October, leaving five dead in a gang-related dispute.
- Another pool hall attack one month earlier, which killed seven and wounded four.
- The killing of former Ecuador international footballer Mario Pineida, 33, during an armed attack in Guayaquil in December.
UK Foreign Office Issues Travel Warnings
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued specific travel advice. It advises against all but essential travel to Manabi and six other coastal regions, as well as most areas within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border.
The FCDO notes that a 60-day state of emergency was renewed for Ecuador on December 31, "due to internal disturbance and armed violence". This applies to multiple provinces including Guayas, El Oro, and Pichincha.
While tourists are not typically targeted in coastal areas, the Foreign Office warns that visitors "could be a victim of violence due to mistaken identity or be caught up in a security incident involving others". In other parts of the country, the FCDO highlights risks of "express kidnapping," where individuals are forced to withdraw money from ATMs.
For any essential travel near the Colombian border, the advice is stark: the situation can change rapidly. Travellers are urged to stay alert, follow local advice, travel in daylight with an official guide, and have robust emergency plans and communication systems in place.
Ecuador has become a major hub for drug distribution and storage over the past four years, primarily through its porous borders with Colombia and Peru, fuelling the brutal gang warfare that now spills onto its beaches.
