ECUADOR · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What is happening Ecuadorian police detained four alleged members of the armed group Comandos de la Frontera in 14 raids across Orellana, Sucumbíos and Guayas provinces in Operation Muralla on Thursday, 15 October, Interior Minister John Reimberg announced.
- —Why it matters The group is a dissident offshoot of Colombia’s former FARC rebels, and the United States has charged its alleged leader, Geovany Andrés Rojas, with cocaine conspiracy and narco-terrorism after Colombia extradited him on Friday, 25 September.
- —The numbers Authorities link the group to 19 deaths, including 11 soldiers and three police officers, plus 25 more deaths under investigation, and put the damage to its operations at more than US$600 million.
- —Who is who Reimberg heads the Interior Ministry, which oversees the National Police, under President Daniel Noboa; the Fiscalía is Ecuador’s public prosecution service; the four detainees are known by the aliases Mazón, Meneses, Raquetilla and Coche.
- —What to watch Whether prosecutors publish formal charges and hearing dates for the four detainees, whether the investigation Reimberg describes reaches other members and collaborators, and how the US case against Rojas proceeds in San Diego.
- —Power Index Ecuador ranks 8th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 38.2 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you The US advisory for Ecuador is Level 2, exercise increased caution, but asks visitors to reconsider travel to Sucumbíos province because of terrorism and crime, and officials accuse the group of drug and arms trafficking.
Ecuadorian police detained four alleged members of the Comandos de la Frontera armed group in 14 raids on Thursday, 15 October. The United States took custody of the group’s alleged leader less than three weeks earlier.
Ecuadorian police detained four alleged members of the Comandos de la Frontera armed group in Operation Muralla on Thursday, 15 October. Interior Minister John Reimberg said 14 simultaneous raids hit the provinces of Orellana, Sucumbíos and Guayas.
The US has a separate case against the group’s alleged leader, Colombian Geovany Andrés Rojas, extradited to San Diego on 25 September. The sources reviewed do not link Thursday’s arrests to that case.
What Operation Muralla Targeted
Reimberg announced the results after an investigation of more than a year, Expreso, Extra and Primicias reported. The police worked with the Fiscalía General del Estado, Ecuador’s public prosecution service.
More than 120 police officers and 14 prosecution officials took part in the raids, which began in the early hours of Thursday. Reimberg said they targeted both those who carried out attacks and those who planned or financed them.
Who Was Detained
Reimberg named the four detainees by their aliases: Mazón, Meneses, Raquetilla and Coche. El Universo and El Comercio quoted him calling them “cabecillas y presuntos responsables”, meaning ringleaders and presumed culprits.
Two were arrested in Sucumbíos, one in Coca in Orellana and one in Guayas, El Universo and El Diario reported. Headlines in Primicias, Vistazo, El Diario and El Comercio say leaders, while Expreso and El Universo say alleged members.
The Attacks Behind the Investigation
Reimberg linked the group to 19 deaths. They include 11 soldiers at Alto Punino, in Orellana, and three police officers at La Joya de los Sachas.
The Alto Punino ambush took place on Friday, 9 May 2025, El Diario reported, during what Vistazo called a reserved mining-control operation. On Thursday, 15 May 2025, the government declared the group an organised armed group, Vistazo reported.
Investigators also see possible links to 25 other deaths in Orellana and Sucumbíos, Expreso and El Comercio reported. He said operations against it have caused damage of more than US$600 million.
The Group and Its US Link
Comandos de la Frontera comprises dissidents of Colombia’s former FARC guerrillas who rejected the 2016 peace deal, El Comercio reported. Reimberg links it to drug trafficking, arms trafficking, illegal mining and terrorism.
He says the group moves people and weapons between Colombia and Ecuador. The US Justice Department describes it as a paramilitary organization of an estimated 1,000 members in southwestern Colombia.
On Friday, 25 September, Colombia handed Rojas, alias Araña, to US officials, the Justice Department said. He faces charges of international cocaine conspiracy and narco-terrorism in federal court in San Diego.
US Attorney Adam Gordon said Colombia and the Justice Department are “making a clean sweep of narcoterrorists, starting with Araña”. His case is separate from Thursday’s arrests, and the Justice Department release does not mention Ecuador.
Ecuadorian media describe Roberto Álvarez Vera, alias Gerente, as the group’s alleged leader in Ecuador, sentenced to 13 years for money laundering. Reimberg said in December 2025 that Ecuador seeks to extradite such leaders to the US, Primicias reported.
The US designated the Ecuadorian gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos as foreign terrorist organizations in 2025. That notice does not name Comandos de la Frontera, which Primicias says authorities allege has linked up with Los Lobos.
What It Means for US Readers
A US federal court in San Diego is hearing cocaine and narco-terrorism charges against the group’s alleged leader. Thursday’s arrests are a separate Ecuadorian operation, and the sources reviewed show no US role in them.
The State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, exercise increased caution, in its advisory issued 18 August 2026. It says to reconsider travel to Sucumbíos province because of terrorism and crime.
Two US-linked cases are moving this month: the Salcedo extradition on 29 October and an alleged Los Lobos financier’s arrest. See also the guide on whether Ecuador is safe, the profile of President Daniel Noboa, the Araña extradition and the Quito guide.
What Is Not Known
The outlets reviewed give no formal charges or hearing dates for the four men. They also differ on whether the four are leaders or members of the group.
Reports differ on the number of officers, 122 or 126, and on the spelling of one alias, Mazón or Masón. The outlets do not itemise five of the 19 deaths or explain the US$600 million damage estimate.
No source reviewed ties Operation Muralla to the US case against Rojas. Reimberg’s announcement, as the outlets report it, names no US agency or role.
What Comes Next
Reimberg said investigations continue against the rest of the organisation and its collaborators, El Universo and Extra reported. No hearing date for the four detainees has been announced.
In San Diego, Rojas pleaded not guilty at his first hearing, NTN24, Vanguardia and Noticias RCN reported. A new appearance is set for October, and no trial date has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Muralla?
It is an Ecuadorian police and prosecution operation that began on Thursday, 15 October, with 14 raids in Orellana, Sucumbíos and Guayas. It led to the arrest of four alleged members of the Comandos de la Frontera.
Who are the Comandos de la Frontera?
They are dissidents of Colombia’s former FARC rebels whom Ecuador links to drug trafficking, arms trafficking, illegal mining and terrorism. The US Justice Department estimates the group has about 1,000 members in southwestern Colombia.
Is the United States involved in the raids?
The sources reviewed do not say the United States took part in Operation Muralla. The US has charged the group’s alleged leader, Geovany Andrés Rojas, in San Diego after Colombia extradited him on 25 September.
Who was detained?
Interior Minister John Reimberg named four people by their aliases: Mazón, Meneses, Raquetilla and Coche. Officials call them presumed responsible only, pending a decision by the courts.
How many deaths are linked to the group?
Reimberg linked the group to 19 deaths, plus 25 other deaths under investigation. The 19 include 11 soldiers at Alto Punino and three police officers at La Joya de los Sachas.
Is it safe for Americans to visit Ecuador?
The State Department rates Ecuador Level 2, exercise increased caution, but says to reconsider travel to Sucumbíos because of terrorism and crime. Its advisory was issued on 18 August 2026, so check for updates before booking.
Sources: Expreso, 15 October; Extra, 15 October; Primicias, 15 October; El Universo, 15 October; El Comercio, 15 October; Vistazo, 15 October; El Diario, 15 October; US Attorney, Southern District of California, 25 September; US Federal Register, Los Choneros and Los Lobos designation; Primicias, alias Gerente, 30 December 2025; Primicias, 7 September; Vistazo, 15 May 2025; Noticias RCN, 29 September; NTN24, 29 September; Vanguardia, 29 September; US State Department, Ecuador travel advisory, issued 18 August 2026 (all accessed 15 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