Ecuador prosecutors have charged a former interior minister and six others with planning and carrying out the 2023 murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio at a campaign rally in Quito.
The suspects, many linked to the notorious Los Lobos cartel, were found in prison in 2024; a gunman was killed on the scene while the other six were murdered in jail while awaiting trial. The head of Los Lobos, Wilmer “Pipo” Chavarria, fled to Spain after faking his death and now faces extradition.
Villavicencio, a journalist‑turned‐legislator, had been campaigning for anti‑corruption reforms and had received death threats, prompting a police detail. The case came after President Daniel Noboa, elected in 2023, announced a hard‑line military strategy against crime gangs.
The seven accused allegedly played indirect roles in the murder, with several being fugitives now in the United States, Venezuela, and Spain. Interpol red notices have been issued for their capture and extradition.
Ecuador sits between Colombia and Peru, major cocaine producers, making it a pivotal transit country for illicit drugs. Los Lobos has deep ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico, using corruption and violence to control supply routes.
Pre‑trial hearings are underway, and a judge will decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence for a full trial.
