Multiple Suspects in Assassination of Ecuador Presidential Candidate Found Dead in Prison

Six Colombian men accused of murdering Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio were found dead in a prison in Guayaquil. The killings highlight the influence of the narco-trafficking industry in Ecuador, which has ties to the government and has been responsible for extortion, recruitment, and violence. The deaths occurred just days before a runoff election, and speculation suggests that powerful figures ordered the assassination. The United States is offering rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the masterminds. President Guillermo Lasso has vowed to uncover the truth behind the crime.