Wife and Child of Emelec Player Kidnapped in Guayaquil

Kidnapping Incident Amid National Security Crisis

Ecuadorian Police Chief Édison Rodríguez, reported that the wife and 5-year-old child of football player Jackson Rodríguez were kidnapped in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The 26-year-old defender, who currently plays for Emelec, was hiding under a bed when a group of armed men stormed his house around 3:00 AM. The perpetrators, who used a gray pickup truck, fled with his wife and child after failing to find the player in the house.

Guayaquil Becomes a Hub for Organized Crime

This tragic incident occurred while the government was enforcing a national state of emergency across nine regions, including Guayas Province, which includes Guayaquil. Official data reports 2,345 cases of violent deaths in the first quarter of this year, with 742 cases occurring in Guayaquil.

The port city, located about 270 kilometers from the capital Quito, has become one of the most dangerous areas in Ecuador. Guayaquil is frequently used as a drug shipment route to Europe, Central America, and the United States.

Similar Case Happened Before

Previously, a similar incident occurred about four months ago when Pedro Perlaza, a player from Liga de Quito, was also kidnapped in Esmeraldas. Fortunately, Perlaza was rescued several days after the kidnapping in a successful operation.