Hitmen ambush Ecuador air force colonel en route to military ceremony, sparking urgent investigation.

In a chilling display of violence that underscores the escalating drug crime crisis in Ecuador, Colonel Porfirio Cedeño was gunned down on Friday, February 14, 2025, in Guayaquil, a city grappling with rampant lawlessness. The attack occurred as Cedeño, a respected officer in the air force and head of a special operations unit, was being transported to a military ceremony. Witnesses report that the moment was nothing short of chaotic, with over 20 gunshots echoing through the city as assailants unleashed a barrage of bullets on Cedeño’s van.

The grim details emerged from police reports, revealing that the driver of the vehicle was struck in the leg during the ambush, which left the van with shattered windows and bullet-riddled metal. Santiago Tuston, a police official, confirmed the severity of the attack and indicated that investigators believe the gunmen were operating from a vehicle of their own, suggesting a premeditated and coordinated effort to target the colonel.

Cedeño’s journey from Guayaquil to Manta—a city approximately three hours away—had been routine, yet it ended in tragedy, reflecting a broader narrative of violence that has turned what was once a peaceful nation into one of the world’s most dangerous places. The streets, once filled with the vibrancy of local life, now echo with fear, fueled by ongoing battles between rival drug gangs that have destabilized entire communities. The homicide rates in Ecuador have soared alarmingly, a stark reminder of the nation’s perilous transformation.

The scene of the crime left a haunting image. The van, now stalled in the road, symbolizes the deepening crisis, littered with more than 20 bullet casings recovered by investigators. This tragic incident has reignited discussions about the growing power of criminal organizations in Ecuador, which boasts around 20 active gangs involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion. The sheer volume of violence is a stark revelation for a country with a population of 18 million, nestled between the world’s leading cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru.

In an emotional tribute, former president Rafael Correa took to social media to honor Cedeño, recalling his dedication and service as a friend and protector who was firmly aligned with the fight against crime. “He was not just a soldier; he was my dear friend,” Correa wrote, highlighting the personal loss overshadowed by a wave of destruction that has claimed countless lives.

This incident is not the first of its kind. Just the previous month, authorities captured the leader of Los Lobos, one of Ecuador’s most notorious crime syndicates, within the coastal city of Portoviejo. The U.S. government had previously identified Los Lobos as the largest drug trafficking organization in the country, a designation underscoring the magnitude of the threats Ecuador now faces. Drug-related violence has surged as these organizations leverage transit routes that facilitate drug shipments to major markets in the United States and Europe.

The year 2023 marked a grim milestone, with the country recording an astonishing 47 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants. In response to the escalating violence, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of “internal armed conflict” in January 2024, spurred by incidents such as a brazen attack on a television studio where gunmen opened fire, showcasing a level of danger that has deeply unsettled the populace. Following that attack, a prosecutor working on the case was found murdered, a powerful reminder of the stakes involved in the struggle against organized crime.

As of now, the investigation into the murder of Colonel Cedeño is ongoing. Authorities are diligently tracing leads on the gunmen involved, while the military continues to grapple with the implications of losing a key figure in the fight against crime. With the violent landscape evolving rapidly, the public is left to wonder: what will it take for Ecuador to reclaim its sense of safety and peace? As the community mourns the loss of yet another life to this brutal conflict, the hope is that the courage and commitment to justice will persist in the face of such overwhelming adversity.