Ecuadorian President Daniel Novoa announced on Sunday that Wilmar Geovany Chavarria Valle, known as “Pipo,” the alleged leader of Ecuador’s most powerful and violent criminal organization, the Los Lobos drug lord, has been arrested in Spain.
“Today we captured Pipo Chavarria, the most wanted criminal in the region and a top leader of Los Lobos,” President Novoa posted on X’s official account.
The announcement coincided with Ecuador’s referendum, which included proposals aimed at combating organized crime, including the possible reintroduction of foreign military bases.
Ecuador’s Defense Minister John Reinberg said Chavarria was “responsible for the deaths of at least 400 people” and said the arrest was the result of a coordinated operation between the Ecuadorian National Police and Spanish authorities.
Chavarria is accused of orchestrating assassinations, managing illegal mining operations and drug trafficking in collaboration with Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Noboa said the gang’s leader “faked his death, changed his identity and went into hiding in Europe while continuing to direct his criminal activities in Ecuador.”
Los Lobos, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in September 2024, is allegedly involved in drug trafficking, illegal gold mining, and armed support to the CJNG in securing key cocaine routes, particularly in the city of Guayaquil.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the group in June 2024, saying it has “thousands of members” and is a major factor in escalating violence across Ecuador.
Authorities say Los Lobos is suspected of being involved in the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in Quito on August 9, 2023.
Mr. Chavarria’s arrest marks a major breakthrough in Ecuador’s ongoing fight against transnational organized crime.
