Overview
- Police reported finding five human heads hanging from ropes on Puerto López beach on Sunday, January 11.
- A wooden sign left beside the heads threatened those extorting fishermen and referenced so‑called “vaccine cards.”
- Authorities attributed the display to conflict between criminal groups connected to drug‑trafficking networks that use local fishermen and small boats.
- Manabí province remains under a state of emergency with reinforced patrols after recent mass killings in Puerto López and Manta.
- Investigators said the five victims have been identified, their bodies have not been located, and no arrests have been announced.