In one of Ecuador’s most volatile urban zones, where the threat of organized crime looms heavy and law enforcement presence is often met with resistance, a joint operation was quietly set in motion. It was the culmination of a six-month investigation, one that would lead police deep into Monte Sinai, a neighborhood in the Nueva Prosperina area of Guayaquil, known as much for its gang control as for its vulnerability.
The mission: to confront a predator hiding in plain sight.
Operation Gran Guardian 02 was launched by Ecuador’s Cybercrimes Unit (ENP-CiberPOL) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGE), supported logistically by Our Rescue’s Mission team in Ecuador. We provided critical behind-the-scenes support, including lodging, transportation, fuel, vehicle maintenance, and rental vehicles to keep the operation moving forward in a city where trust is fragile and safety is never guaranteed.
What brought law enforcement to this particular doorstep in Monte Sinai was a lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). It pointed to an Ecuadorian national suspected of uploading and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) through Google Drive. The digital trail led the authorities to Guayaquil.
But executing an arrest in Monte Sinai is not as simple as knocking on a door. The area is not only impoverished but also governed in large part by transnational criminal organizations, groups that don’t welcome intrusion, especially not from law enforcement. To safely carry out the search and arrest warrant, nearly 40 officers were mobilized. They came from across the policing spectrum: cybercrime investigators, tactical response teams, and riot control units, all converging on a single target in one of the city’s most dangerous zones.
On June 28, 2025, that target was confronted. Members of Our Rescue’s team were on the ground, standing with our partners as the operation unfolded. Inside the residence, authorities found more than they anticipated. The initial warrant was issued for possession of CSAM, but what they discovered was far worse: active production.
A 19-year-old Ecuadorian national was arrested on site. Alongside the arrest, officers seized three cell phones, two laptop computers, two hard drives, and more than 50 files containing CSAM.
When you support Our Rescue, you help equip local law enforcement with the tools and resources they need to carry out operations like this. Stand with us to ensure more predators are stopped, more survivors are protected, and justice moves forward, one operation at a time.