An interprovincial van traveling between Guayaquil and Cuenca was attacked and robbed on the night of April 22 near the entrance to Puerto Inca, close to the P&S fuel station.
The assailants, moving in a motorcycle and a van, opened fire on the vehicle before stopping it. The driver was struck in the hand when bullets hit the door and window on his side. Despite the injury, he managed to continue driving until reaching a nearby gas station, where the incident was reported and help was requested.
Passengers were threatened and robbed during the attack.
The stretch of road involved—part of the Cuenca–Molleturo–Naranjal corridor—has seen a rise in assaults on transport vehicles, particularly in areas such as Tamarindo, Hierba Buena, and zones near the Guayas border.
In response to the ongoing incidents, authorities from Azuay and Guayas have been working on a joint security plan for the route, which is widely used by travelers and tourists.
Efforts to strengthen security in the area have included upgrades to a Community Police Unit in Tamarindo, the installation of a technological control portal, and the addition of motorcycles to support police patrols.