Ecuador's Drug Violence Claims 17 Lives in Bar Shooting

Seventeen individuals, including a young boy, were tragically killed in a mass shooting at a bar in Ecuador, underscoring the relentless tide of drug-related violence gripping the nation.

A horrific scene unfolded on Sunday night at La Clínica bar in El Empalme, where gunmen armed with rifles and pistols opened fire, resulting in 17 fatalities, including a 12-year-old boy. The Ecuadorian attorney general’s office reported an additional 14 injuries. According to Police Major Oscar Valencia, the attackers arrived in two pickup trucks, indiscriminately firing at patrons who were enjoying the evening. Disturbingly, the child victim was reportedly shot while attempting to flee, succumbing to his wounds after running more than a kilometer. Eyewitness accounts revealed that the assailants shouted "active wolves," possibly referring to a notorious local gang entrenched in the battle for drug trafficking dominance.

The Guayas region, where the shooting occurred, has become a hotbed for escalating gang violence, evidenced by a similar tragic incident just a week earlier that left nine individuals dead in a pool hall. In that episode, authorities indicated that many of the victims were merely collateral damage amid an ongoing conflict between rival gangs. President Daniel Noboa’s declared war on organized crime last year appears to have intensified the violence, with Ecuador now facing one of the highest homicide rates in the region at 38 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. This tension is compounded by the grim reality that approximately 75% of the world’s cocaine supply traverses Ecuador, further entrenching its position in the global drug trade.