Ecuadorian Drug Lord “Pipo” Captured in Spain After Faking Death

One of Ecuador’s most wanted drug traffickers, Wilmer Chavarria, commonly known as “Pipo,” was captured on Sunday in Malaga, Spain. His arrest follows a coordinated operation between Spanish police and Ecuadorian authorities, marking a significant triumph in the fight against drug trafficking. Spanish National Police shared images of Chavarria in custody, clad in a black and green tracksuit, as he was escorted to a patrol car.

Chavarria is believed to lead Los Lobos, a notorious criminal organization recently classified as a terrorist group by the United States. This gang, comprised of approximately 8,000 members, has been linked to a series of political assassinations in Ecuador and alleged collaborations with Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s president, stated that Chavarria had faked his death in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequently obtaining a new identity and relocating to Spain, where he continued to orchestrate drug shipments and criminal activities.

Chavarria’s capture arrives during a critical period for Ecuador, a country of 18 million that has witnessed a dramatic increase in violence and homicide rates. Once considered one of the most peaceful nations in South America, Ecuador has now emerged as a significant transit point for cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru. Criminal gangs have increasingly targeted political figures, municipal officials, and journalists in their struggle for territorial dominance.

As Chavarria was apprehended, Ecuadorians were voting on a four-part referendum addressing potential amendments to the national constitution. One proposal would allow foreign nations to establish military bases in Ecuador, a reform that Noboa argues is essential to strengthen anti-drug efforts and enhance cooperation with international allies, particularly the United States.

The U.S. designated Los Lobos as the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador last year, imposing sanctions on Chavarria. Earlier this year, another high-ranking member of the group, Carlos D, also known as “El Chino,” was arrested in Portoviejo. Identified as the second-in-command, he was considered a high-value target due to his significant role within the organization.

Despite these arrests, violence related to drug trafficking shows no signs of abating. Following the recapture of Adolfo Macías, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, in June 2024 after his prison escape, the situation remains precarious. Macías was extradited to the United States in July, facing multiple charges related to drug trafficking and firearms.

Los Lobos emerged as a faction of hitmen operating within Los Choneros, gaining prominence after the assassination of a former leader in 2020 disrupted the latter’s command structure. The gang has been implicated in various violent acts, including the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, a presidential candidate in 2023, as well as orchestrating deadly prison riots and engaging in illegal gold mining operations.

Chavarria’s apprehension is a crucial step in Ecuador’s ongoing struggle against drug-related violence and organized crime, as authorities work to restore peace and stability in a nation grappling with escalating criminal activity.