At a Glance
- Five severed heads were found hanging from ropes on Puerto Lopez beach, Ecuador
- A wooden sign warned fishermen to stop extortion or face the same fate
- Police blame an ongoing territorial dispute between rival drug trafficking groups
- Why it matters: The incident highlights Ecuador’s record 2025 homicide surge
Beachgoers in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador, encountered a grisly scene on Sunday morning: five human heads suspended from ropes along the popular whale-watching shoreline, a macabre message authorities link to warring drug cartels.
Daniel J. Whitman reported for News Of Losangeles that the discovery occurred in the small fishing port on Ecuador’s western coast, with local media circulating images of the blood-stained tableau. The heads, belonging to males aged 20-34, remain unidentified except for one man with a prior criminal record, according to BBC.
The Warning Sign
Beside the heads, a hand-painted wooden placard delivered a chilling ultimatum:
- Same fate awaits anyone who keeps threatening fishermen
- Stop demanding protection payments-locally called “vaccine cards”
- “The town belongs to us,” the sign declared
CBS News translated the message, noting “vaccine cards” refers to extortion money demanded from fishermen.
Police Investigation
Local police told News Of Losangeles the act stems from a territorial feud between rival trafficking groups vying for control of drug corridors. Officers have yet to locate the corresponding bodies, complicating identification efforts.
The area has seen prior bloodshed; CBS reported nine people, including an infant, were killed on the same beach last month amid similar gang disputes.
National Context
Ecuador closed 2025 with 9,000 recorded homicides, its deadliest year on record, the AP noted. The coastal stretch where tourists gather to watch humpback whales has become an unlikely front line in that violence.
Authorities continue searching for the victims’ remains while urging residents to report extortion attempts. No arrests have been announced.
Key Takeaways
- Puerto Lopez beach is both a tourist hotspot and a cartel battleground
- Fishermen face extortion under threat of death
- Ecuador’s homicide rate has surged as drug gangs fragment territory
