Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced on Sunday the capture of Wilmer Chavarría (‘Pipo’), the leader of Los Lobos, the largest and most powerful Ecuadorian criminal gang currently operating in the Andean country, and who had become the most wanted man after the recapture in May of drug trafficker José Adolfo Macías Villamar (‘Fito’).
Through a message on social media, Noboa indicated that ‘Pipo’ was captured in a joint operation between the police of Ecuador and Spain, although he did not specify in his message the place of the arrest, although it had been rumored in recent years that the head of Los Lobos directed the operations of the criminal organization from Spain.
The Ecuadorian president made this announcement at the same time as the electoral day was inaugurated in Ecuador for the referendum called by the head of state to decide, among other issues, whether to establish a Constituent Assembly that allows for a tougher fight against organized crime, as well as more flexibility for the arrival of investments and job creation.
Today we captured ‘Pipo’ Chavarría, the region’s most wanted criminal and top leader of Los Lobos. The criminal who faked his death, changed his identity, and hid in Europe while ordering murders in Ecuador, controlling illegal mining operations, and moving drug routes alongside the (Mexican) Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Noboa stated.
Some presumed him dead; we searched for him in his own personal hell. That's the difference when there's a will to fight for your country. I recognize and appreciate the joint work of the Ecuadorian and Spanish National Police, he added.
After casting his vote in the coastal town of Olón in the province of Santa Elena, where he has his beach residence, Noboa declared that the capture of ‘Pipo’ was made possible thanks to international cooperation with Spain and the United States.
We carried out a very effective and well-coordinated operation. International cooperation is the best way to combat these groups, Noboa pointed out, adding that among his proposals for this referendum is the reinstatement of foreign military bases.
Los Lobos had become the most powerful criminal gang in Ecuador, playing a leading role in the war between criminal organizations that has been taking place in the country since the end of 2020.
The gang led by ‘Pipo’ sought to break away from Los Choneros and was the most successful, eventually displacing them by creating, according to authorities, an alliance with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to send cocaine to Mexico, mainly from Colombia, in contrast to their rivals, who are allied with the Sinaloa cartel.
Los Lobos increased their reach and diversified their activities by also heavily involved in illegal mining and, according to authorities, forging alliances with dissident groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to exploit illegal mining enclaves in border areas of the Amazon. EFE
