Ecuadorian Air Force Commander Assassinated Amid Escalating Crime Crisis

"Lieutenant Colonel Porfirio Javier Cedeño, commander of Ecuador’s Air Force Special Operations Group, was assassinated on February 14, 2025, in Guayaquil. The ambush occurred near the Litoral Penitentiary, a notorious crime hotspot, as Cedeño traveled to Manta for a military ceremony. Hitmen fired over 20 shots at his vehicle, killing him instantly and

critically injuring his driver.
Cedeño, a decorated officer with over 20 years of service, led anti-narcotics operations in Durán, a key drug trafficking hub near Guayaquil. His assassination underscores Ecuador’s spiraling violence, fueled by transnational cartels and local gangs vying for control of lucrative drug routes.
President Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” in January 2024, targeting 22 organized crime groups labeled as terrorist organizations. This militarized crackdown initially reduced homicides by 16.5% in 2024 but failed to sustain progress. By early 2025, murders surged again, with January alone recording a 56% increase compared to the same period in 2024." RioTimes