The Minister of the Interior, Juan Zapata confirmed the crime of Vera, whose body was found handcuffed, according to the police report.

The disappearance of the politician occurred Thursday afternoon in the El Arbolito sector, north of Duran, two hours before a Council session there.

Vera was elected councilman of Duran for the Social Christian Party (PSC) and his murder took place in the midst of a crime boom in that coastal city, which is part of the so-called zone 8, together with Guayaquil and Samborondon.

Duran is under a state of emergency since last July, which according to the Executive, seeks to contain violent deaths and insecurity in that area.

More than a month ago, another official of the canton, Miguel Santos, was murdered on his way home.

Similarly, the mayor, Luis Chonillo, was the victim of an armed attack last May before the first session of the municipal council.

Attacks on politicians and public officials are becoming increasingly frequent in Ecuador, especially in the coastal provinces, where the main criminal gangs operating in the South American nation are based.

Violence continues to give no respite to Ecuadorians who live bloody days with shootings and murders with dozens of dead and wounded in several provinces.

The government attributes the insecurity crisis to the rise of drug trafficking and the disputes between criminal gangs for the control of drug trafficking.

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