Police arrests 4 after 12 people shot dead at cockfight in Ecuador’s Manabi province

The attack, which took place at a cockfighting ring, saw gunmen entering the ring and opening fire as the terrified audience ran for cover.

Local media reports indicated that the attackers, who were wearing fake military gears, were actually members of a criminal gang whose rivals were present at the scene. (Photo: Screengrab/ @azucenau)

Police in Ecuador have arrested at least four people in connection to an attack by gunmen at a cockfighting ring on Friday, which killed at least 12 people.

The attack, which took place at a cockfighting ring, a venue where people gather to watch rooster fights, saw gunmen entering the ring and opening fire as the terrified audience ran for cover, footage of the attack shared on social media showed.

Local media reports indicated that the attackers, who were wearing fake military gears to bluff everyone at the cockfighting ring, were actually members of a criminal gang whose rivals were present at the scene.

🚨🇪🇨Masacre en pelea de gallos en #Ecuador: Hombres armados, disfrazados de militares, abrieron fuego en un local de Manabí. Dejaron al menos 12 muertos.

Ocurrió el jueves por la noche. El Ministerio del Interior informó que se detuvo a cuatro presuntos implicados y que serían… pic.twitter.com/FCu5MqeIn6

— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) April 19, 2025

Ecuador police on Friday said that there were people injured in the firing incident, apart from 12 casualties, who were taken to the hospital but they didn’t specify how many. A criminal investigation was launched by the police.

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As per a BBC report, at least 20 criminal gangs are believed to be active in Latin America, who are up to grab the control of major drug routes.

About 70% of the world’s cocaine now goes through Ecuador’s ports before it is shipped for the US and Europe, Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has claimed.

The world’s two largest producers of cocaine – Colombia and Peru – are responsible for the smuggling of drugs in Ecuador. In January 2025, 781 murders took place in Ecuador which was the highest in recent times, and most of the cases were related to illegal drug trade.

Police are yet to release the identity of those arrested in connection with the attacks on Friday which killed 12 people.

(with inputs from Reuters and BBC)

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Ecuador

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