One in all Ecuador’s most wished drug lords, who faked his personal loss of life and moved to Spain, has been captured in Malaga, the Ecuadorian president has mentioned.
Wilmer Chavarria, believed to be the chief of drug trafficking group Los Lobos, was arrested on Sunday within the widespread vacation vacation spot in a joint operation with Spanish police, in keeping with Daniel Noboa.
Chavarria, also called “Pipo”, faked his loss of life in 2021 through the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to Spain after acquiring a brand new id, President Noboa mentioned.
Picture:
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa voted in a referendum on Sunday. Pic: AP
Whereas in Spain, he coordinated drug shipments, ordered assassinations and ran extortion rackets in opposition to gold mines in Ecuador, the president added.
Los Lobos, which has round 8,000 fighters, was not too long ago declared a terrorist organisation by US authorities.
The group has been linked to political assassinations in Ecuador and has additionally been accused of working carefully with Mexico’s Jalisco New Era Cartel.
Ecuador was once some of the peaceable international locations in South America, however after turning into a key transit level for cocaine produced in neighbouring Colombia and Peru, violent crimes and murders have spiked.
Between January and September, Ecuadorian authorities seized greater than 146 tonnes of medication, down from 208 tonnes throughout the identical interval in 2024.
Violent deaths elevated by greater than 36% year-on-year within the first 9 months of 2025.
Drug trafficking gangs have attacked presidential candidates, civil officers and journalists as they battle for management over ports and coastal cities.
Chavarria’s seize got here as Ecuadorians appeared set to vote in opposition to altering the structure to permit international international locations to run navy bases within the nation.
The measure, which was backed by Mr Noboa, was rejected by almost two-thirds of voters in a nationwide referendum, with round 90% of votes counted.
The president had argued it could assist improve anti-drug cooperation with international locations just like the US and put additional strain on drug traffickers.
In June, one other Ecuadorian drug trafficker, Jose Adolfo Macias, also called “Fito”, was arrested after a 12 months on the run.
Final 12 months, 5 males, together with two who had been alleged to be Los Lobos members, had been jailed for a complete of greater than 100 years for murdering presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
