The Police and Army of Ecuador detained two alleged members of the criminal group Los Chechenos, linked to the Iván Ríos Front, a dissidence of the extinct guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), during an operation carried out in the border province of Esmeraldas, both institutions reported this Saturday. The Army added that two firearms were seized, including a rifle; ammunition, a hand grenade, a knife, two mobile devices, and other evidence. Some of these criminal organizations have allied with FARC dissidences in activities such as illegal mining, which led Noboa to include several foreign groups in his 'war' against organized crime. Ecuador has been under an 'internal armed conflict' since 2024, declared by President Daniel Noboa to intensify the fight against national criminal gangs, which were termed 'terrorists,' and are considered the cause of the unprecedented violence recorded in the Andean country. However, the men were 'neutralized' and arrested. Security forces carried out raids in the municipality of Eloy Alfaro, in the province of Esmeraldas, during which an armed confrontation occurred. One of the two detainees was identified as Deret Argel A. Q., alias Dere, presumed leader of Los Chechenos in the area, while the other is Manto Bryan M. B. According to the Police, both would presumably be responsible for committing crimes such as extortionate kidnapping, drug trafficking, disappearances, contract killings (assassinations for hire), illegal mining, trafficking in weapons and ammunition, and illicit trafficking in hydrocarbons.
Two Members of 'Los Chechenos' Gang Arrested in Ecuador
Ecuadorian Police and Army conducted an operation in Esmeraldas province, arresting two alleged leaders of the 'Los Chechenos' criminal gang. The detainees are accused of serious crimes, including kidnappings and drug trafficking. The operation is part of the president's declared war on organized crime.
