A leader of "Los Lobos," one of Ecuador's largest and most dangerous criminal organizations, was reportedly arrested by authorities at his home in the coastal city of Portoviejo, about 600 miles west of Ecuador's capital, Quito.
"Los Lobos" evolved from a prison gang into one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal organizations with thousands of members across the country and within its prison system. Since 2021 they have partnered with transnational drug traffickers, dabbled into Ecuador's gold mining industry and established themselves as the dominant group in Quito.
The United States last year announced sanctions against "Los Lobos" and its leader, Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre alias "Pipo" due to the significant contributions to the violence gripping Ecuador. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the criminal group is backed by Mexico's Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and by the Sinaloa cartel.
According to a report from CBS News, Carlos "D," also known for his alias of "El Chino" was the second-in-command of "Los Lobos" and was considered to be a "high-value target" by Ecuadorian authorities.
Law enforcement seized large amounts of cash at his Portoviejo home along with armored vehicles, drugs and several weapons during his arrest.
A video released by Ecuador's National Ministry of Defense on X shows a shirtless "El Chino" and at least two other detained suspects.
¡CAE EL SEGUNDO TERRORISTA MÁS PELIGROSO EN MANABÍ! 👊🏻
— Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador (@DefensaEc) January 25, 2025
Alias “El Chino” está fuera de las calles. El líder de los “Los Lobos” fue capturado por las @FFAAECUADOR en Manabí, por medio de un efectivo despliegue militar. 🤝
¡Nada ni nadie detendrá nuestra labor! pic.twitter.com/UuHicBH2mM
"His arrest represents a strategic blow against the structure of this organized armed group," the military said in a statement shared on its Facebook page.
nSight Crime has detailed that "Los Lobos" counts with a presence in 16 of Ecuador's 24 provinces, and that jailed members of "Los Lobos" are also the de facto leaders at several Ecuadorian prisons, often directing operations on the outside from behind bars.
The criminal group has been linked to the murder of anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was killed while leaving a rally in Quito in August of 2023.
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