Ecuador Gang Leader Carlos Suástegui Villanueva Shot Dead at Guayaquil Airport

Carlos Alberto Suástegui Villanueva, 39, identified as a leader of the Los Águilas gang in El Triunfo, was shot dead outside the arrivals terminal of Guayaquil's airport. Security footage showed two young men, one concealing a firearm behind a teddy bear, approaching Suástegui Villanueva before opening fire. Police have detained two teenagers in connection with the assassination.

This killing occurred just a day after Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared a fresh state of emergency across 10 provinces, including Guayas, where the attack took place. Interior Minister John Reimberg confirmed Suástegui Villanueva's identity and affiliation with Los Águilas, a group designated as a “terrorist organisation” by the government in 2024, accused of extensive involvement in drug trafficking and extortion.

Ecuador, situated between major coca producers Colombia and Peru, has become a critical conduit for cocaine smuggling to the US and Europe. This geographic reality has transformed the nation into a hub of organised crime, with Guayaquil particularly affected by the resultant violence. The murder rate in Ecuador reached a record high in 2025, despite presidential measures granting security forces enhanced powers.

The daylight shooting at the airport caused panic among travellers, with local newspaper El Universo reporting widespread scattering as shots rang out. One bystander was injured in the attack. The arrivals hall remained closed for over two hours while forensic investigations were conducted.