Chavarria, who is believed to be the leader of drug trafficking group Los Lobos, had moved to Spain after obtaining a new identity.
One of Ecuador’s most wanted drug lords, who faked his own death and moved to Spain, has been captured in Malaga, the Ecuadorian president has said.
Wilmer Chavarria, believed to be the leader of drug trafficking group Los Lobos, was arrested on Sunday in the popular holiday destination in a joint operation with Spanish police, according to Daniel Noboa.
Chavarria, also known as “Pipo”, faked his death in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and moved to Spain after obtaining a new identity, President Noboa said.
While in Spain, he coordinated drug shipments, ordered assassinations and ran extortion rackets against gold mines in Ecuador, the president added.
Hunted ‘in his very own hell’
On social media, Mr Noboa said Chavarria had “hid in Europe while ordering murders in Ecuador”, adding: “Some gave him up for dead; we searched for him in his very own hell.”
Interior minister John Reimberg said Chavarria was responsible for at least 400 deaths, and had managed criminal operations from prison between 2011 and 2019.
