SUMMARY

R7 was a prison gang in Ecuador, that operated mainly in the country’s costal regions. R7 was not a mega gang like Los Choneros, Los Lobos and Los Chone Killers, which operated on a large scale throughout the country. Rather R7 was a gang networking between the mega gangs existing in Ecuador’s prisons.

R7 engaged in illicit activities such as micro-trafficking, hit men and extortion. The group was founded by Freddy Anchundia and Angelo Javier Achille alias Negro Angelo, two allies of Jorge Luis Zambrano, alias JL o Rasquiña, who led the group until his death in December 2020. Rasquiña was also the leader of Los Choneros. Anchundia took over leadership after Rasquiña’s death. Various of Rasquiña’s allies led gangs like Los Lobos, Los Tiguerones and Los Chone Killers.

R7 became known to the public in connection to two prison massacres in 2022, one in Turi prison in Azuay province and the other in Bellavista prison in Santa Domingo de los Tsachilas, both ordered by and involving Anchundia. In this prison fighting with Los Lobos, over 70 inmates were shot and stabbed and the violent outcome of these massacres led to the breakdown of the alliance between R7 and Los Lobos.

R7 has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.