Human Heads Discovered on Ecuador Beach

Ecuadorian police have launched an investigation after five human heads were discovered displayed on a tourist beach in the country’s southwest, amid a continuing surge in gang-related violence.

The grim discovery was made on Sunday at a beach in Puerto López, a popular whale-watching destination. Images circulating on social media showed the heads tied with ropes to two wooden posts along the shoreline.

Nearby, authorities found a wooden sign bearing a threatening message directed at criminal groups accused of extorting fishermen through so-called “vaccine cards,” a local term for protection payments. The message warned that those responsible had been identified and would face consequences if the extortion continued.

The incident comes as Ecuador struggles to contain escalating violence linked to organized crime. President Daniel Noboa has declared an armed campaign against gangs, deploying the military to assist police operations. However, despite nearly two years of intensified security efforts, deadly attacks have continued across the country.

Puerto López has previously been affected by gang violence. In December, at least nine people — including a baby — were killed in an attack at the same beach, which authorities attributed to clashes between rival criminal groups.

Ecuador has increasingly become a strategic hub for international drug trafficking due to its location between major cocaine-producing nations Peru and Colombia. According to the Organized Crime Observatory, the country ended 2025 with a record homicide rate of 52 per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in the region.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing, and additional security measures have been deployed to the area to reassure residents and tourists.