An alleged sicario, or hitman, was arrested during a military intelligence operation on Sunday, 20 September 2026, in Naranjal, Guayas, Ecuador. Hermes Ponce, also known as 'La Muerte,' was reported to be an enforcer for Los Lobos, a splinter group formed in 2020 from Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's largest criminal organisations.
In a separate military operation, an alleged leader of Los Choneros, Miguel Ángel Quiñónez Camacho, alias Negro Félix, was also arrested in El Oro. He was arrested with four explosive charges, ammunition of various calibers and controlled substances. Camacho reportedly has criminal records for murder, robbery and drug-related offences.
