Six Colombians arrested for the murder of Ecuador’s presidential candidate

Six people were detained after presidential candidate Villavicencio, known for his anti-corruption stance ahead of presidential elections scheduled for August 20, was killed in an August 9 gun attack in Ecuador. The persons in question were said to be Colombians.

According to the story that the Associated Press based on the arrest report, the suspects were caught hiding in a house in the capital, Kito. A vehicle and a motorcycle were seized, as well as ammunition such as pistols and grenades, according to the report.

Ecuador’s Interior Minister, Juan Zapata, described the attack as “a political crime of a terrorist nature with the aim of sabotaging the August 20 elections.”

Although the police report did not provide information on whether or not the detainees belonged to an organization, Zapata stated that the suspects were related to organized crime.

The electoral campaign team announced that Villavicencio was killed with three shots to the head by the attacker when he was getting into his vehicle after an event he attended in Kito.

DRUG GANGS IN ECUADOR

Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office reported that the suspect who carried out the attack was shot in a shootout with security forces and died of serious injuries. It was also recorded that 9 people, including a parliamentary candidate and 2 policemen, were injured in the attack.
Villavicencio said he had received death threats from many people, including leaders of Mexico’s “Sinaloa Cartel,” one of the international organized crime groups operating in Ecuador.

Ecuador, a neighbor of Peru and Colombia, is used as a transit point for drug trafficking from these countries. Drug gangs are active in the country. Due to the regional fights of the drug gangs in the country, many people die every year. (AA)