The football player’s wife, a 5 -year -old kidnapped as he hid under the bed during the invasion of the house in Ecuador, says the police

The wife of the Ecuadorian soccer player Jackson Rodríguez and the 5 -year -old son were kidnapped Wednesday morning, police reported, when men broke into their home in search of the Ombris of Emelec, who told the investigators that he hid under a bed.

The kidnappings took place around 3 am in the coastal city of GuayaquilSaid police chief Édison Rodríguez.

In his testimony of the police, the 26 -year -old fullback said he hid under a bed when he heard that the main door broke, according to the police chief. The perpetrators took Rodriguez’s wife and son after asking the woman if Rodriguez was in the residence.

According to the police, Rodríguez saw in a window “that people were traveling in a gray double cab truck.”

The incident occurred in the middle of an emergency state declared 10 days ago by the Government in nine areas of the country, including the province of Guayas, to which Guayaquil belongs. The measure allows the mobilization of security forces in these territories to combat the operations of organized crimes groups, which the authorities blame for the wave of violence.

Ecuador is home to around 20 criminal gangs, with striking names such as “The Freddy Kruegers” and “The Peaky Blinders” – involved in trafficking, kidnapping and extortion.

Insecurity and crime have affected Ecuador for four years, with an increase in the first months of the year, according to the Government. Between January and March, 2,345 violent deaths were reported, 742 of which occurred in Guayaquil, located about 170 miles southwest of the capital of Quito.

The port city is considered one of the most dangerous areas of the country. From these ports, shipments of illegal drugs to Europe, Central America and the United States are sent, according to the authorities.

Other athletes have been attacked in the past. In December, the football player Pedro Perlaza, who played for Quito League, was kidnapped in Esmeraldas, a city located about 115 miles northwest of Quito. He was rescued alive A few days later.

The United States points to gangs in Ecuador

President Daniel NoboaWho was re -elected for a second term in the elections earlier this month, suggested that the special forces of the United States should be deployed in Ecuador to address drug violence and floated legal reforms to allow US bases to operate in the country.

At least two leaders of high profile Ecuadorian gangs attacked by the United States have reached the headlines this year. Earlier this month, the fugitive leader of “Los Cherones” that depended on the Seros, bribes and military weapons to do business was accused in New York City By charges, it imported thousands of pounds from cocaine to the United States. José Adolfo Macías Villamar – whose nickname is “Affair” – He escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and is not in custody of the United States.

In 2024, the Sanctions imposed by the United States Treasury On “Los Choneros.”

Earlier this year, a leader of one of the largest crimes unions in Ecuador, the wolves, was arrested at home in the coastal city of Portoviejo. Carlos D, widely known for his alias El Chino, was the second in command of the wolves and “considered a target of high value,” the armed forces said in a statement.

He United States last year declared Lobos Be the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador.