Quito, Feb 24 (V7N) — Gunmen dressed in military-style uniforms killed seven people Monday in western Ecuador, police said, as the country continues to grapple with a relentless wave of drug-related violence. The massacre occurred during the early morning hours at a rural ranch in Manabi, a province that has been under a state of emergency since January along with eight other regions. This latest attack underscores a disturbing trend where criminal organizations use official disguises to bypass security and strike their targets with precision.

The assailants reportedly rounded up their victims and took them to a central courtyard, where they were subjected to an interrogation before being executed. Police confirmed that the attackers utilized high-powered rifles and handguns to carry out the killings. Among the seven victims was a 16-year-old boy, highlighting the indiscriminate brutality of the gangs currently fighting for territorial control in the South American nation.

President Daniel Noboa has responded to the crisis by deploying the military in nationwide anti-drug campaigns, yet homicides have continued to climb. Last year, the country reached a grim milestone with a record 9,216 violent deaths, as the government struggles to dismantle domestic gangs that have formed lucrative alliances with powerful international cartels. The presence of gunmen in military fatigues has become a frequent and terrifying hallmark of these turf wars.

Ecuador’s transformation from one of the safest countries in the region to a major cocaine trafficking hub has occurred in just a few years. Its strategic location on the Pacific Ocean, sandwiched between the world’s top coca producers, Colombia and Peru, has made it a vital gateway for narcotics destined for the United States and European markets. This geographic "golden route" has drawn in Mexican and Colombian cartels who provide the resources for local gangs to militarize.

The province of Manabi remains a primary flashpoint in this conflict due to its essential port access and remote ranch lands used for staging shipments. As authorities process the scene of Monday's execution, the failure of the state of emergency to deter such brazen high-casualty attacks remains a point of intense national concern. The investigation into the identities of the gunmen and their specific cartel affiliations is currently ongoing.

END/WD/RH