Police dismantle criminal gangs in Venezuela and Ecuador

Authorities in Venezuela and Ecuador have dismantled separate criminal groups following targeted investigations.

In Mérida, Venezuela, the Cicpc dismantled a group known as ‘Los Pitufos’. The organization consisted of six adolescents, aged 15 to 17, who allegedly targeted schools in the Arapuey parish to steal valuables. In their most recent operation, the group stole computers and Wi-Fi equipment, disrupting educational activities. Police successfully identified the minors and recovered items related to a recent theft.

In Guayaquil, Ecuador, the National Police and the State Attorney General's Office conducted an operation against ‘Los Igualitos’, a faction of the ‘Los Tiguerones’ gang. Following an eight-month investigation and 10 raids in the Nueva Prosperina sector, 13 individuals were detained. The group is linked to nine violent deaths recorded between April and July 2026, as well as extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Authorities seized firearms, ammunition, cell phones, and motorcycles during the raids.