Inside Ecuador's CEIFO UFO Investigation Commission

Introduction

Ecuador’s Comisión Ecuatoriana para la Investigación del Fenómeno OVNI (CEIFO) was a short‑lived but nationally significant government‑linked investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)—often termed UFOs in media—that operated under the auspices of the country’s Ministry of Defence between 2005 and 2007. CEIFO did not produce definitive conclusions about extraterrestrial technology, and its legacy remains one of partial disclosure, restricted archives and contested transparency. However, it stands as Ecuador’s only formally constituted, officially authorised UFO research body, blending military testimony, civilian reports and archival material held by state institutions.

Formation and Mandate

CEIFO was established in 2005 by decree of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Defence, with formal ties to the Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (Ecuadorian Air Force) as part of a broader aerospace development project within the Defence plan of that year. [fae.mil.ec]fae.mil.ecDIRECCIO N DE DESARROLLO AEROESPACIAL – Fuerza Aérea EcuatorianaDIRECCIO N DE DESARROLLO AEROESPACIAL – Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana

• The commission emerged after years of pressure from civilian researchers and ufologists for official recognition of aerial mysteries recorded by military and civilian witnesses. [navegantesdelcosmos.ec]navegantesdelcosmos.ecCEIFO: Comision Ecuatoriana para la Investigación del Fenómeno Ovni | Navegantes del Cosmos | Ufólogo Jaime RodríguezOctober 1, 2021…Published: October 1, 2021
• Its creation was backed at least implicitly by successive administrations: firstly under President Lucio Gutiérrez and later with institutional support continuing into the period of President Rafael Correa. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• The official purpose was to review, catalogue and analyse archival reports, photographs, videos and witness accounts of unidentified aerial phenomena held by defence forces, with an aim to declassify and make this material available for analysis. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025

CEIFO’s mandate therefore sat at the intersection of military record‑keeping and public transparency, seeking to transform formerly private reports into an accessible set of cases.

Case Review Process

CEIFO’s operational work centred on a corpus of evidentiary material collected over decades by military observers, defence archives and civilian witnesses. According to reporting based on material released to media:

• 412 photographic and video items were recorded in official archives, but only 44 of these were formally examined by CEIFO researchers during the commission’s active period. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• The cases reviewed combined military testimony and civilian sightings, including accounts from senior officers and trained pilots, alongside non‑expert citizens. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• Richie examples include claims that a colonel fired on a luminous object near Loja province, and that an Air Force pilot observed an unexplained craft during a flight mission—both incorporated into the CEIFO records as reviewed cases. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• Other civilian material included archival footage such as a 1992 video from former vice‑presidential residence in Guayaquil showing an erratic object in the sky, and similar aerial phenomena captured in Quito in 2005. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025

Despite the breadth of material captured, CEIFO’s review process was limited in scope: the vast majority of archived evidence (approximately 368 items) never underwent formal analysis, and documentation related to these cases remains held by military authorities rather than in a public archive. [Prensa Mercosur]prensamercosur.orgPrensa MercosurLos archivos secretos de Ecuador sobre ovnis: 412 casos, pilotos y una investigación inconclusa | Prensa MercosurMay 11, 2026…Published: May 11, 2026

Partial Disclosure and Public Access

Public access to CEIFO’s findings was partial rather than comprehensive, and the commission’s dissolution in 2007 left a legacy of incomplete transparency:

• Only a subset of the analysed cases—the 44 items—was discussed publicly or shared with journalists and civilian researchers, often through intermediaries such as ufologist Jaime Rodríguez, who led CEIFO. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• Rodríguez and others have claimed that external intelligence personnel, allegedly from the CIA, participated in the commission and limited access to certain files, though there is no official documentation publicly confirming this interference. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• After 2007 there was no successor body established to continue systematic study. The larger archive of unexamined material remained under military control, and Ecuador has not since developed a permanent, publicly accessible repository or investigatory framework comparable to those in some neighbouring countries. [Prensa Mercosur]prensamercosur.orgPrensa MercosurLos archivos secretos de Ecuador sobre ovnis: 412 casos, pilotos y una investigación inconclusa | Prensa MercosurMay 11, 2026…Published: May 11, 2026

The result was a mixed public understanding: while Ecuador gained documented acknowledgements of official investigation into unidentified aerial reports, the absence of a full public archive and the lack of conclusive classification outcomes have left CEIFO’s work more open‑ended than definitive.

Evidence Quality and Interpretation

CEIFO’s documentation and later publicised material illustrate the challenge of balancing official record‑keeping with scientific scrutiny:

• The cases reviewed included visual records and first‑hand narratives, but lacked physical evidence that could be studied independently of eyewitness accounts. [Diario Extra]extra.ecDiario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025…Published: March 19, 2025
• Methodological limitations—such as incomplete metadata, absence of simultaneous corroboration from independent instruments, and restricted access to baseline data—mean that many recorded phenomena remain classified as “unidentified” rather than attributed to specific causes. [Prensa Mercosur]prensamercosur.orgPrensa MercosurLos archivos secretos de Ecuador sobre ovnis: 412 casos, pilotos y una investigación inconclusa | Prensa MercosurMay 11, 2026…Published: May 11, 2026
• In public media, the mix of military testimonies and civilian sightings has sometimes been interpreted in speculative ways (e.g. assertions of submerged bases), but these claims exceed what the official records analysed by CEIFO substantiate. [El Diario]eldiario.ecEl Diario Ufólogo dice que hay base OVNI submarina frente a CrucitaEl DiarioUfólogo dice que hay base OVNI submarina frente a CrucitaFebruary 17, 2026…Published: February 17, 2026

Official statements from Ecuadorian authorities stop short of endorsing extraterrestrial origin hypotheses, instead framing the phenomena in terms of non‑identified aerial objects without conclusive explanations.

Legacy

CEIFO’s existence, although brief, marks Ecuador’s only government‑linked UFO investigation that reached a degree of public exposure. Its legacy highlights several core dynamics in national UFO history:

While CEIFO did not produce definitive scientific conclusions, it remains a reference point for understanding how Ecuador’s institutions have engaged with unidentified aerial reports and how transparency challenges intersect with national security, archival practice and public interest in the unexplained. [Prensa Mercosur]prensamercosur.orgPrensa MercosurLos archivos secretos de Ecuador sobre ovnis: 412 casos, pilotos y una investigación inconclusa | Prensa MercosurMay 11, 2026…Published: May 11, 2026

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Further Reading

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The Hynek UFO Report

By J. Allen Hynek

Examines formal UFO case review processes similar to CEIFO's mission.

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The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects

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Provides context for how state-backed investigations operate.

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Closest commercial match to Ecuador's government-linked CEIFO investigations.

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Strong fit for discussions of archives, disclosure, and restricted files.

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Endnotes

1. Source: fae.mil.ec
   Title: DIRECCIO N DE DESARROLLO AEROESPACIAL – Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana
   Link: https://www.fae.mil.ec/direccion-de-desarrollo-aeroespacial/

2. Source: navegantesdelcosmos.ec
   Link: https://navegantesdelcosmos.ec/blog/ceifo-comision-ecuatoriana-para-la-investigacion-del-fenomeno-ovni/
   Source snippet

   CEIFO: Comision Ecuatoriana para la Investigación del Fenómeno Ovni | Navegantes del Cosmos | Ufólogo Jaime RodríguezOctober 1, 2021...

   Published: October 1, 2021

3. Source: extra.ec
   Link: https://www.extra.ec/noticia/actualidad/avistamientos-ovni-ecuador-ministerio-defensa-evidencias-123644.html
   Source snippet

   Diario ExtraAvistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidenciasMarch 19, 2025...

   Published: March 19, 2025

4. Source: extra.ec
   Link: https://www.extra.ec/noticia/actualidad/enigmas-ecuador-evidencias-avistamientos-ovnis-88825.html
   Source snippet

   Diario ExtraEnigmas: Ecuador tiene evidencias de avistamientos ovnis | Noticias EcuadorAugust 2, 2023...

   Published: August 2, 2023

5. Source: extra.ec
   Title: Avistamientos ovni en Ecuador: El Ministerio de Defensa tiene las evidencias
   Link: https://www.extra.ec/noticia/ecuador/avistamientos-ovni-ecuador-ministerio-defensa-evidencias-123644.html
   Source snippet

   March 19, 2025 — AVISTAMIENTOS OVNI EN ECUADOR: EL MINISTERIO DE DEFENSA TIENE LAS EVIDENCIAS CEIFO fue la comisión clave en la investiga...

   Published: March 19, 2025

6. Source: prensamercosur.org
   Link: https://prensamercosur.org/2026/05/11/los-archivos-secretos-de-ecuador-sobre-ovnis-412-casos-pilotos-y-una-investigacion-inconclusa/
   Source snippet

   Prensa MercosurLos archivos secretos de Ecuador sobre ovnis: 412 casos, pilotos y una investigación inconclusa | Prensa MercosurMay 11, 2026...

   Published: May 11, 2026

7. Source: eldiario.ec
   Title: El Diario Ufólogo dice que hay base OVNI submarina frente a Crucita
   Link: https://www.eldiario.ec/portoviejo/investigador-afirma-existencia-de-base-ovni-submarina-frente-a-crucita-portoviejo-17022026/
   Source snippet

   El DiarioUfólogo dice que hay base OVNI submarina frente a CrucitaFebruary 17, 2026...

   Published: February 17, 2026

8. Source: marcianitosverdes.haaan.com
   Title: “Desde pequeño las he visto”, comentó con naturalidad. Uno de los e
   Link: https://marcianitosverdes.haaan.com/2025/08/ovnis-en-ecuador/
   Source snippet

   en Ecuador | Marcianitos VerdesAugust 4, 2025 — Los ovnis lo siguen Este tipo de avistamientos no es nuevo para Pazmiño, quien asegura ha...

   Published: August 4, 2025

9. Source: expreso.ec
   Title: OVNIS EN ECUADOR: REGISTROS OFICIALES Y TESTIGOS MILITAR
   Link: https://www.expreso.ec/temas/ovni/
   Source snippet

   ovni | Diario ExpresoOVNI Image: El ufólogo Jaime Rodríguez lideró CEIFO, organización del Ministerio de Defensa que investigó los avista...

Additional References

1. Source: esnoticia.co
   Link: https://esnoticia.co/noticia-16383-entrevista-jaime-rodriguez-investigador-ufologo-ecuador-

2. Source: expreso.ec
   Link: https://www.expreso.ec/buenavida/ovnis-ecuador-registros-oficiales-testigos-militares-revelan-encuentros-235688.html
   Source snippet

   March 19, 2025 — OVNIS EN ECUADOR: REGISTROS OFICIALES Y TESTIGOS MILITARES REVELAN SUS ENCUENTROS Estos son los avistamientos OVNI más i...

   Published: March 19, 2025

3. Source: altrogiornale.org
   Title: UF O: L’ECUADOR NE AMMETTE UFFICIALMENTE L’ESISTENZA – Altrogiornale.org
   Link: https://www.altrogiornale.org/ufo-lecuador-ne-ammette-ufficialmente-lesistenza/
   Source snippet

   UFO: L'ECUADOR NE AMMETTE UFFICIALMENTE L'ESISTENZA – Altrogiornale.orgMarch 27, 2008 — 13 Ottobre 2025 UFO: L'ECUADOR NE AMMETTE UFFICIA...

   Published: March 27, 2008

4. Source: radiocentro.com.ec
   Title: El experto afirma que un alto oficial le confirmó el dato
   Link: https://radiocentro.com.ec/ufologo-ecuatoriano-afirma-que-hay-una-base-submarina-extraterrestre-en-manabi/
   Source snippet

   February 18, 2026 — ECUADOR: MAYO 6, 2026 Ecuador, mayo 06, 2026 Ecuador Continental: 12:20 Ecuador Insular: 12:20 Ecuador, mayo 06, 2026...

   Published: February 18, 2026

5. Source: larepublica.ec
   Title: la historia desclasificada de base ovni en manabi
   Link: https://www.larepublica.ec/blog/2018/02/09/la-historia-desclasificada-de-base-ovni-en-manabi/
   Source snippet

   La historia desclasificada de la base OVNI en Manabí | La República ECFebruary 9, 2018 — LA HISTORIA DESCLASIFICADA DE LA «BASE OVNI» EN...

   Published: February 9, 2018

6. Source: ecoactivo.com
   Title: ECUADO R: Desclasificación Extraterrestre y OVNI
   Link: https://www.ecoactivo.com/extraterrestres/ecuador-desclasificacion-extraterrestre
   Source snippet

   ECUADOR: Desclasificación Extraterrestre y OVNI - EcoActivoMay 4, 2021 — Image: ECUADOR: Desclasificación Extraterrestre ECUADOR: DESCLAS...

   Published: May 4, 2021

7. Source: nexusnewsfeed.com
   Title: Barely 44 of 412 items of evidence
   Link: https://nexusnewsfeed.com/article/unexplained/ecuador-ministry-has-proof-of-ufo-sightings/
   Source snippet

   Ecuador: Ministry has proof of UFO sightings - Nexus NewsfeedFebruary 24, 2024 — ECUADOR: MINISTRY HAS PROOF OF UFO SIGHTINGS They have v...

   Published: February 24, 2024

8. Source: thebongiovannifamily.com
   Title: OVNI S: Ecuador desclasifica
   Link: https://www.thebongiovannifamily.com/ufologia/ufologia/80-ovnis-ecuador-desclasifica.html
   Source snippet

   OVNIS: Ecuador desclasificaAugust 23, 2008 — UFOLOGÍA OVNIS: ECUADOR DESCLASIFICA * Imprimir * Correo electrónico Visto: 4149 ECUADOR DES...

   Published: August 23, 2008

9. Source: youtube.com
   Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrNO4NZQITk

10. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybx6KNyYK5Q