At least eight people have been killed in a fresh wave of violence in Guayaquil, Ecuador&rsquo;s largest city, as criminal gangs continue to battle for dominance over key drug trafficking routes.
The shootings took place on Tuesday in two separate incidents in the Pascuales district, along the Daule highway. Police confirmed the fatalities and said officers were immediately dispatched to investigate and pursue those involved.
Local reports indicate that the victims were targeted near Guayaquil&rsquo;s industrial zone, close to the Peca area and outside a municipal market, as traders were beginning their morning activities. Among the dead were five motorcycle taxi drivers, according to local television reports cited by Xinhua news agency.
Police believe the surge in violence may be connected to the seizure of four assault rifles by security forces over the weekend.
The attacks are the latest in a string of violent incidents that have gripped Guayaquil in recent days. On Sunday, four men were shot dead inside a home in the Bastion Popular neighbourhood. The following day, a married couple was gunned down shortly after dropping their children off at school in the Mucho Lote area.
Guayaquil, the capital of Guayas province, has been under a state of emergency since April due to what the government describes as a &ldquo;grave internal disturbance.&rdquo;
Ecuador has been facing an escalating security crisis since President Daniel Noboa declared an "internal armed conflict" in January 2024, targeting powerful organised crime groups linked to international drug trafficking networks.

Police suspect the violence stems from rifles seized over the weekend (File Photo)

Victims shot near Peca market as traders opened; five were motorcycle taxi drivers

Ecuador Drug Turf War Kills 8 in Guayaquil

Victims shot near Peca market as traders opened; five were motorcycle taxi drivers

June 11, 2025 | 15:25 IST