Ecuador Army Seizes 54 Guns and 30,700 Rounds in Quito
ECUADOR · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What happened Ecuador’s army raided an unlicensed weapons warehouse in north Quito.
- —When Saturday, 10 October, during a holiday weekend in Ecuador.
- —The haul 54 firearms, 770 cartridges and 30,700 further rounds of ammunition.
- —Detained One man, reportedly linked to a 2024 seizure of 108 guns.
- —Still open The guns’ origin, buyers and any gang link are not known.
Soldiers found dozens of shotguns, pistols and submachine guns in a warehouse that had no permit to store weapons.
Ecuador’s army seized 54 firearms and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition from a warehouse in north Quito on Saturday, 10 October. The Defence Ministry announced the Quito arsenal on its official X account that afternoon.
The raid matters to Washington because Ecuador is a front-line US partner against cocaine gangs. Two of those gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, are designated by the US State Department as foreign terrorist organisations.
What the Army Found in the Quito Arsenal
The Defence Ministry said soldiers seized “54 firearms, 770 cartridges and munitions of different calibres, as well as 30,700 munitions.” It said the Ecuadorian Army carried out the operation in the Monteserrín neighbourhood as part of the government’s security bloc.
The ministry posted the statement at 1:25 p.m. Quito time, under the headline “Arsenal of more than 30,000 munitions seized.” Monteserrín is a residential district in the north of the capital.
The Quito news site Primicias, citing the armed forces, listed 44 carbines of 12 calibre, the bore used in most shotguns. It also listed seven 9mm pistols, two submachine guns and one air rifle.
Primicias added four magazines, two telescopic sights and a spare carbine barrel. For scale, 30,700 rounds would fill more than 600 standard boxes of 50 cartridges.
A Warehouse Without a Permit
According to the armed forces, the property “did not have authorisation from the arms control body to store this type of material.” In Ecuador, the military oversees the licensing of firearms and ammunition stocks.
One man was detained at the site, Primicias and the Guayaquil daily Expreso reported. The authorities did not release his name or say which offence he will face.
The army told Primicias the same man was linked to a January 2024 seizure in Cumbayá, a suburb east of Quito. Police then found 108 firearms, 4,689 rounds and equipment for reloading cartridges.
That earlier case was known as “Operation Arsenal.” It is not known how it ended in court or why the man was free.
Ecuador’s Security Campaign
The raid took place under a 60-day state of exception that President Daniel Noboa declared on 15 September, Expreso reported. Executive Decree 498 covers eight provinces, including Pichincha, where Quito lies, and runs until 14 November.
Noboa, a conservative businessman, has made the fight against drug gangs the centre of his presidency. He uses states of exception to deploy soldiers alongside the police in city streets.
Quito has seen a run of gun seizures this year. Primicias reported that authorities confiscated more than 70 firearms in the capital during August alone.
What It Means for You
For US policymakers, Ecuador is a test of whether a military-led crackdown can weaken gangs that move cocaine north. Illegal weapons stocks are the fuel of that violence, so seizures are one yardstick of progress.
For investors in Ecuador’s dollar bonds, security is a core part of the country risk. Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency, so its economy is closely tied to US financial conditions.
For travellers, Quito remains a major gateway to the Galápagos Islands and the Andes. US visitors should check the State Department’s Ecuador advisory before booking and follow local authorities.
What Is Not Known
The authorities have not said where the weapons came from or whom they were meant for. They have not linked the Quito arsenal to any criminal group.
The detained man’s identity, nationality and possible charges are unknown. It is also unclear whether any of the weapons had been legally registered at some point.
What Comes Next
Under Ecuadorian law, a detained suspect must appear before a judge within 24 hours for a so-called flagrancy hearing. At that hearing, prosecutors can bring charges such as illegal possession of weapons.
The seizure does not mean the cache belonged to a known gang. Officials have made no such claim so far.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ecuador’s army seize in Quito?
The army seized 54 firearms, 770 cartridges and 30,700 further rounds of ammunition. The Defence Ministry announced it on Saturday, 10 October.
Where was the Quito arsenal found?
It was found in a warehouse in Monteserrín, a district in the north of Quito. The armed forces said the site had no permit to store weapons.
Was anyone arrested?
One man was detained, according to Ecuadorian media citing the armed forces. His name and possible charges have not been released.
Why does Ecuador matter to the United States?
Ecuador is a key transit country for cocaine bound for the United States and Europe. Washington lists two Ecuadorian gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as terrorist organisations.
Sources: Ministry of National Defence of Ecuador, statement on X; Primicias; Expreso (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief