The leader of one of the largest crimes unions in Ecuador, Los Lobos, was arrested on Friday at his house in the Portoviejo coastal town, the army said.
Carlos D, widely known for his pseudone “El Chino”, was the second commander of Los Lobos (Wolves) and “considered a goal of high value,” the armed forces said.
A large amount of money was found in his house, along with armored vehicles, drugs and weapons. Armed forces posted an arrest image on Social mediashowing the sleeveless “El Chino” and at least two closed suspects.
“His arrest is a strategic blow against the structure of this organized armed group,” said the UA army statement.
AND The United States last year declared Los Lobos To be the largest organization for drug trafficking in Ecuador, which has exceeded from one of South America’s most stable states, among the most popular in just a few years due to the increase in narcotics operations.
As he announces sanctions Against Los Lobos, US officials said that a gang “contributes significantly to the violence that captured the country,” and its network includes thousands of members of a supported Mexican cartel Jalisco Nueva geneción – a new generation – and Sinaloa Cartel, which makes Banda particularly dangerous.
Last year, the authorities seized a record 294 tonnes of drug drugs, mostly cocaine originating from neighboring Colombia and Peru, which was smuggled with Europe and the United States through the port of Guayaquil.
Los Lobos has a presence in 16 of the 24 Ecuador Province, where he also deals with illegal gold excavation, according to NGOs Group Insight Crime.
Los Lobos members in prison are de facto rulers of several Ecuadorant prison, often directing operations from the outside behind bars.
Authorities also accused a group of relations with the murder of the presidential candidate against corruption Fernando Villavicciowho was killed while abandoning a rally in Quit in August 2023.
Only last month, two boys were found dead near the Ecuador military base. The disappearance of the boy, between the ages of 11 and 15, caused protests in the South American nation, which is in the armed struggle between Narko gangs and security forces.
In January 2024. President Daniel Noboa declared the state of “an inner armed conflict” After a brutal wave of violence, caused by the prison of the powerful chief of the crime.
The move followed The inlets broke and opened the fire In TV studio and robbers, they threatened random killed civilians and security forces. The prosecutor who explored the attack was later shot.
