The attack, which Ecuadorian authorities attributed to the armed structure operating in Colombia called Comandos de Frontera, was due to an ambush during an operation against illegal mining on the border between the Amazonian provinces of Orellana and Napo, in northeastern Ecuador.

Regarding the incident, Sanchez wrote on his social network account X that the event mourns the entire region and evidences “the threat posed by organized armed groups that commit crimes in border areas, who know neither limits nor humanity”.

Their criminal violence is inadmissible and must be confronted with the full force of the State.

We reaffirm our commitment to work in a coordinated and sustained manner with Ecuador to guarantee security on our common border. We will not allow transnational organized crime to fracture the union or the tranquility of our fraternal peoples,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a communiqué circulated in local media, the aforementioned armed structure denied its participation in the events the day before.

The group claimed that they are only active in Colombian territory and that they do not carry out offensive actions against the military forces of the country or against the forces of neighboring countries.

Ecuador is experiencing a proliferation of criminal gangs such as the Choneros, the Lobos, the Tiguerones, among others, and that one of these structures may be responsible for the attack.

abo/rc/ifs