Kidnapping incidents in Ecuador and Guatemala trigger police and military response

In Guayaquil, Ecuador, a 30‑year‑old man was rescued after being held captive for a day in a makeshift dwelling in the Nueva Prosperina sector. Military forces discovered him bound with packaging tape, suffering multiple injuries and blood loss. Officials said the kidnapping was linked to the criminal group Los Fatales, which demanded $10,000 and weapons. The victim received medical treatment after being taken to a health center.

In Quiché, Guatemala, police arrested a woman and a man who had staged a fake kidnapping to extort Q80,000 from relatives. The suspects, identified as Oved (29) and Ana, were seized near the village of Carranza after investigators uncovered a cellphone, cash and a vehicle. They were charged with simulation of kidnapping and placed before a judge.