Video shows gunmen dressed as soldiers execute 12 people at cockfight (2025)

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Criminals wearing fake military uniforms opened fire on a group of spectators watching a cockfight in Ecuador, killing 12 people.

The shooting happened in the coastal province ofManabi on Thursday night, with footage being captured of the horrific incident.

In the shocking clip, a group of at least five men in military garb can be seen entering the arena before opening fire with automatic rifles.

Dozens of people can be seen throwing themselves to cover as the shooting continues. Local reports indicate those involved made off with $20,000 in cash.

In addition to the 12 killed, police said there were also injured individuals who were taken to local hospitals, but did not specify how many.

According to CBS News, criminal gangs dressing in military uniform is a common tactic.

In a statement on Friday, police colonel Renan Miller Rivera said: 'We have 12 people deceased as a result of an armed attack by a criminal group.'

Police have since said that they have detained four people, including what they described as a 'target of intermediate value' in connection with the shooting.

According to officials, the four suspects belong to a organized criminal group named 'Los R7'.

Officers said they found discarded military uniforms and two cars abandoned on a nearby highway. One of which had been set alight, the other was overturned.

In a video to social media, officers could also be seen recovering evidence hidden under bags and tree branches.

Weapons and cash can also be seen being found, as well as a picture of the four suspects in custody. All of their faces are blurred.

In total, police recovered eight rifles, four pistols, three shotguns, eight magazines of ammos, 11 cell phones, ballistic helmets and tactical gloves.

Ecuador is home to an estimated 20 criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.

They wreak havoc in a country of 18 million squeezed between the world's biggest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

In recent years, the nation has been plunged into violence by the rapid spread of transnational cartels that use its ports to ship drugs to the United States and Europe.

About 73 percent of the world's cocaine passes through Ecuador, according to an interior ministry report.

Large parts of the country are under a state of emergency recently renewed by President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected to a second term in elections last Sunday.

On the campaign trail, he suggested US special forces should be deployed to Ecuador to tackle drug violence and floated legal reforms to allow US bases to operate in the country.

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