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5h ago

Alleged Los Lobos Leader ‘Pipo’ Chavarría Arrested in Málaga, Spain

Officials say he directed murders, illegal mining and drug routes tied to Mexico’s CJNG after faking his death.

Ecuador's Minister of the Interior John Reimberg posted this photo after Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría Barre, alias "Pipo", leader of Los Lobos, the largest and most powerful criminal gang in Ecuador, was arrested Sunday, November 16, 2025, in Spain.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa shows his vote in a referendum on whether to allow foreign military bases in the country and rewrite the constitution through a constituent assembly, in Olon, Ecuador, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Cesar Munoz)

Overview

  • Spanish National Police confirmed the arrest in Málaga in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities after a joint investigation.
  • President Daniel Noboa said Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría hid in Europe under a forged identity since 2021 and continued ordering killings and coordinating trafficking, while Interior Minister John Reimberg alleged he is linked to at least 400 deaths.
  • Authorities say Chavarría managed Los Lobos operations from prison between 2011 and 2019 and later oversaw extortion schemes targeting gold mines.
  • U.S. pressure has included Treasury sanctions on Los Lobos in June 2024 and a foreign terrorist organization designation reported in September 2024, with officials describing the group as thousands strong.
  • The capture coincided with a national referendum on anti-crime measures, with preliminary counts reported by media indicating voters rejected allowing foreign military bases.