2017
Colombia
Massacre in Tumaco
Oct. 5, 2017
Photo: Colprensa
During a protest against the eradication of illegal coca crops, eight peasants are killed in a confrontation with police and the Colombian army.
Ecuador
Attack Against GEMA Patrol
Nov. 2, 2017
A patrol of the Special Mobile Anti-Drug Group (GEMA) is attacked with grenades in San Lorenzo, a town in the Esmeraldas Province. No one is injured. The incident is attributed to Guacho’s Oliver Sinisterra Front.
2018
Ecuador
Three People Detained
Jan. 12, 2018
Three members of the Oliver Sinisterra Front are arrested in Esmeraldas and accused of arms trafficking. They are Patrocinio C. P. (aka Cuco), James C. A. and Diego T. V. These are the men Guacho later seeks to free in exchange for the kidnapped El Comercio journalists.
Ecuador
Car Bomb in San Lorenzo
Jan. 27, 2018
Photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior
An early morning car bomb explodes in San Lorenzo near the town police station; 28 people were injured.
Ecuador
Rebels Open Direct Communications With Police
Jan. 13, 2018
Police Major Alejandro Zaldumbide receives messages from the former FARC rebels. They later use the channel to threaten attacks and call for an end to law enforcement operations against them.
Ecuador
Raids and Arrests
March 16, 2018
Police and soldiers raid houses in Mataje, Ricaurte and San Lorenzo in the province of Esmeraldas. Five people are arrested and linked to Guacho.
Ecuador
Three Journalists Kidnapped
March 26, 2018
El Comercio newspaper reporter Javier Ortega, photographer Paúl Rivas and driver Efraín Segarra are kidnapped.The Oliver Sinisterra Front sends photos of the men to Ecuadorian Police Major Alejandro Zaldumbide as proof they have taken them hostage.
Colombia
El Tiempo Publishes False Report
March 28, 2018
El Tiempo publishes a story citing military sources saying the journalists are free. The story proves to be wrong.
Colombia
Proof of Life Video
April 3, 2018
A Colombian media outlet publishes video sent by the kidnappers. In it, Ortega says they are asking to exchange the journalists for three of Guacho’s men held in a penitentiary near Quito, Ecuador. The hostage takers also demand that Ecuador stop cooperating with Colombia in the fight against drug trafficking.
Ecuador
Bomb in Viche
April 4, 2018
A bomb goes off on a bridge in Viche, a town in Quinindé Province. No one is injured. Nine people are arrested and charged with terrorism.
Colombia
Journalists’ Deaths Announced
April 11, 2018
A statement attributed to the Oliver Sinisterra Front asserts that the El Comercio journalists are dead.
Colombia
Photos of Bodies Released
April 12, 2018
Colombian journalists receive photographs of the corpses of El Comercio staff. The images are turned over to Ecuadorian authorities.
Ecuador
Ecuador Confirms Journalists’ Deaths
April 13, 2018
Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno confirms that the journalists have been murdered and announces operations that result in nine arrests.
Ecuador
Government Confirms More Kidnappings
April 17, 2018
The Ecuadorian government says it has received a new video in which Ecuadorians Óscar Villacís and Katty Velasco appear. They have also apparently been kidnapped by the Oliver Sinisterra Front.
Colombia
Bodies Found
June 21, 2018
Juan Manuel Santos, then president of Colombia, announces via Twitter that bodies have been found and may be the men from El Comercio.
Colombia
Bodies Identified
June 22, 2018
Colombian authorities confirm that three of the recently discovered bodies are those of reporter Javier Ortega, photographer Paúl Rivas and driver Efraín Segarra.
Colombia
Two More Bodies Identified
3 de julio 2018
Colombian authorities confirm the discovery of two more bodies believed to be Villacís and Velasco. Experts later determined that they had been tortured before their murder.