Soccer player’s wife and child kidnapped in Ecuador during home invasion

Jackson Rodriguez of Ecuador’s Emelec reacts during a Copa Sudamericana round of 16 second leg soccer match against Argentina’s Defensa y Justicia at the Unico Diego Armando Maradona stadium in La Plata, Argentina, Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023

Ecuadorian professional footballer Jackson Rodríguez’s wife and five-year-old child were abducted early Wednesday during a violent home invasion in Guayaquil, a coastal city currently under a state of emergency due to rising organized crime. Rodríguez, a 26-year-old defender for Club Sport Emelec, told police he narrowly avoided capture by hiding under a bed as armed intruders broke into the house.

The kidnapping occurred around 3 a.m., according to authorities. Rodríguez reported that the attackers forced their way through the front door and immediately inquired about his whereabouts. After confirming his absence with his wife, the perpetrators abducted her and their child. Rodríguez stated he witnessed the assailants fleeing in a gray double-cab pickup truck.

The abduction comes as Ecuador battles an escalating wave of violence attributed to powerful criminal organizations. Ten days prior, the national government declared a state of emergency in nine regions, including Guayas Province, home to Guayaquil. The measure authorizes the deployment of police and military forces to suppress criminal activity, particularly drug trafficking and gang-related violence.

According to government data, Ecuador has experienced a dramatic rise in violent crime over the past four years. Between January and March 2025 alone, 2,345 violent deaths were recorded nationwide, with 742 occurring in Guayaquil, now considered one of the most dangerous cities in the country. The city's ports have become key transit points for illegal drug shipments destined for Europe, Central America, and the United States.

Rodríguez’s family is the latest in a growing list of high-profile targets. In December 2024, Pedro Perlaza, a player for Liga de Quito, was kidnapped in Esmeraldas, another violence-stricken city northwest of Quito. Perlaza was rescued days later.

The attack on Rodríguez’s family highlights the expanding reach of criminal groups in Ecuador and the increasing risks faced by public figures and civilians alike. Authorities continue to search for the missing family members as part of an urgent investigation.