Airport ambush leaves gang leader dead
A suspected Ecuadorian gang leader was shot and killed outside the arrivals area of Guayaquil airport in Ecuador’s largest city. Police say the attack targeted 39 year old Carlos Alberto Suástegui Villanueva, who was believed to lead a faction of the Los Águilas criminal group.
Security cameras captured two young attackers waiting near the terminal. They were seen holding stuffed toys and flowers to blend in with arriving passengers. One of them moved closer to the victim and fired a gun hidden behind a teddy bear, shooting him at close range.
Suspects detained after attack
Authorities detained two teenagers shortly after the incident. Police linked them to the killing but have not released further details about their identities or motive.
The shooting happened during a period of increased security tension across Ecuador. Just one day earlier, the president announced a new state of emergency across 10 provinces, including Guayas, where Guayaquil is located.
Gang violence escalating in Ecuador
Interior Minister John Reimberg identified the victim as a senior figure in Los Águilas, a group accused of drug trafficking and extortion. The gang has been classified as a terrorist organization by the government since 2024.
Ecuador has seen a sharp rise in violent crime in recent years. Once considered relatively stable compared to its neighbors, the country is now facing one of the highest murder rates in the region.
Officials say Ecuador’s location between Colombia and Peru has made it a major transit route for cocaine shipments heading toward the United States and Europe. Criminal networks have grown stronger as they compete for control of trafficking routes.
Panic at Guayaquil airport
The attack outside the airport caused panic among passengers. Witnesses reported people running for safety as gunfire erupted near the arrivals hall. One bystander was injured during the shooting.
Video footage shows the victim collapsing while carrying luggage as shots are fired. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the ambush, while security forces sealed off the area.
The arrivals terminal was closed for more than two hours as forensic teams and police carried out an investigation.
