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Gunmen storm football pitch and shoot three players dead in narcos 'settling of scores'

WARNING, GRAPHIC IMAGES Armed gunmen stormed a football pitch and opened fire, shooting three players dead in what appears to be a narcos-related 'settling of scores'

[Gunmen football game]

Gunmen stormed a football game in Ecuador

Armed criminals disguised as policemen stormed a football pitch and shoot three rival gang members dead in the middle of a match.

The shocking attack happened on a sports field inside the Mocoli Golf Club residential complex in the town of Samborondon, in Guayas province, Ecuador - an area plagued by infamous narcotics gangs who wage violent battles over drug trafficking - on January 7.

CCTV footage shows several men playing football when a group of gunmen enter the field and open fire directly at three players, while the remaining players are forced to lay down. The horrific video shows the attackers carrying out their coordinated attack before fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting.

[Fake police officers]

Fake police officers carried out the attack

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Authorities said one victim died in the centre of the pitch, while the other two men were found in surrounding areas of the sports field.

The victims were identified as Jefferson Xavier Salon Olivero, aged 33, Richard Josue Mina Vergara, aged 29, and 40-year-old Stalin Rolando Olivero Vargas, alias 'Marino'.

Police believe Vargas, who was the leader of the criminal organisation Los Lagartos, may have been targeted by a rival gang in a "settling of scores".

[Narcos attack]

The attack is said to be a Narcos-involved 'settling of scores'

The other two victims also had criminal records for multiple offences, including international drug trafficking, murder and robbery.

Interior Minister John Reimberg said the victims had criminal backgrounds and stated the killing was linked to disputes between organised crime groups.

Reimberg said investigators had information indicating Vargas had been in talks about leaving Los Lagartos and joining the criminal group Los Lobos.

[Stalin Olivero Vargas, alias Marino]

Stalin Olivero Vargas, alias Marino, was attacked

He also confirmed security forces had carried out search operations in nearby residential areas in previous weeks as part of efforts to locate Vargas.

Police said the investigation remains active and that no arrests have been made.

The Lagartos emerged from a loose coalition of hired guns and street gangs in the prisons of Ecuador's biggest city, Guayaquil, to become one of the country's most notorious criminal groups.

Initially formed to oppose the expansion of rival group the Choneros, the Lagartos control local criminal economies and strategic territory used for transnational drug trafficking.

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