In a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime, Ecuadorian authorities, in collaboration with Spanish police, apprehended Wilmer Chavarria, alias “Pipo,” one of Ecuador’s most wanted drug traffickers, in Malaga, Spain. Chavarria, the alleged leader of the notorious drug cartel Los Lobos, had faked his death in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, assumed a new identity, and relocated to Spain, where he continued to orchestrate drug shipments, order assassinations, and extort gold mines in Ecuador. President Daniel Noboa confirmed the arrest, highlighting its importance in curbing the escalating drug-related violence in the country. Los Lobos, a group with approximately 8,000 members, was recently classified as a terrorist organization by the United States due to its involvement in political assassinations and its alleged collaboration with Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Ecuador, once considered one of South America’s most peaceful nations, has seen a surge in violent crimes as it has become a major transit hub for cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru. Drug cartels have targeted presidential candidates, local officials, and journalists in their bid to control ports and coastal cities. Chavarria’s capture coincides with a pivotal referendum in Ecuador, where citizens are voting on constitutional amendments to allow foreign military bases in the country. President Noboa argues that this reform is essential to enhance anti-drug cooperation with international partners like the United States and intensify pressure on drug traffickers.
Ecuadorian drug gang leader captured in Spain years after faking his death
