One of the world’s most sought-after drug kingpins was apprehended in Spain today following years of evading authorities by staging his own demise.
Wilmer Chavarria, also known as “Pipo,” was captured in Malaga through a collaborative effort between Ecuadorian and Spanish officials. Chavarria is believed to be the head of Los Lobos, a drug trafficking group comprising approximately 8,000 members.
Recently, Los Lobos was classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and has been associated with political killings in Ecuador. Additionally, they are reported to have close ties with Mexico’s notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
According to Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Chavarria simulated his death in 2021 amid the Covid pandemic, assumed a new identity, and relocated to Spain. From there, he oversaw drug transports, orchestrated assassinations, and operated extortion schemes targeting gold mines in Ecuador.
While Ecuador was once considered one of the most peaceful nations in South America in the early 2010s, the country of 18 million inhabitants has witnessed a surge in homicides and violent crimes due to its increasing role as a primary transit point for cocaine originating from neighboring Colombia and Peru.
Drug trafficking factions have launched assaults against presidential candidates, local authorities, and journalists as they vie for dominance over seaports and coastal towns.
Chavarria’s arrest coincides with Ecuadorians participating in a four-part referendum, where they are being asked to vote on amending the nation’s constitution to permit foreign nations to establish military bases within Ecuador.
Noboa contends that this adjustment is crucial to enhancing cooperation in the fight against drugs with countries like the United States and intensifying the pressure on drug smugglers.
In a separate incident, a search has been initiated after a young boy’s decapitated head was discovered in a backpack tossed into Golyanovsky Pond in Moscow. Initial reports indicate that the child was strangled and then beheaded, as per law enforcement sources.
The preliminary cause of death for the boy is currently determined as asphyxiation. Marks and bruises found on the child’s neck suggest he was forcibly strangled, according to reports.
Although the identity of the schoolboy remains unknown, it is believed he was between seven and ten years old. Reports suggest that the boy was killed approximately two days ago.
Despite an extensive search of the lake involving divers, no additional human remains were found. The backpack was located inside a red plastic bag.
