Ecuador Sentences 11 Soldiers in Teen Disappearance Case, Fueling Backlash Against Crime Crackdown

An Ecuadorian court has sentenced 11 soldiers to 34-and-a-half years in prison for their role in the abuse and forced disappearance of four teenagers, a landmark case that has intensified scrutiny of President Daniel Noboa's militarized 'Phoenix Plan' to combat spiraling gang violence. The ruling on Monday concludes a yearlong investigation that has gripped the nation and highlighted the human rights cost of the government's security strategy.

The victims—Steven Medina, Nehemias Arboleda, and brothers Ismael and Josue Arroyo, aged 11 to 15—were last seen on December 8, 2024, in the city of Guayaquil. Their charred bodies were discovered weeks later, on December 31, in a remote swamp. The court handed down a lesser sentence of two-and-a-half years to five other soldiers who collaborated with the prosecution.

The military had initially maintained the boys were criminals who had been detained and released alive. However, some soldiers later testified that the patrol had beaten the teens, subjected them to mock executions, and forced them to strip before abandoning them naked in the dangerous, remote area of Taura. While acquitting the soldiers of murder, Judge Jovanny Suarez's ruling stated, "The patrol abandoned the minors in that area, knowing it was dangerous, desolate, and abandoned." The defense argued that prosecutors failed to present conclusive evidence and that the soldiers were sent on patrol without adequate training.

The case has triggered national outrage and condemnation of President Noboa's signature security policy, which deployed the military for domestic policing. Critics argue the strategy has failed to curb crime rates while leading to a surge in human rights violations.

A September report from Amnesty International noted that 43 people have been reported missing by armed forces since Noboa took office in 2023. The organization also accused Ecuador's military of obstructing investigations by withholding information. This verdict now puts immense pressure on the Noboa administration to reassess its approach and address accountability within the armed forces.

This case is a stark illustration of the 'mano dura' (iron fist) dilemma plaguing many Latin American nations. The turn to militarized policing, seen from El Salvador to Colombia, often trades long-term democratic health and rule of law for the promise of short-term security. The international community is watching to see if Ecuador can navigate its security crisis without sacrificing the fundamental human rights that underpin a stable, democratic society.