Spanish and Ecuadorian authorities arrested Wilmer Geovanny 'Pipo' Chavarría Barré in Málaga after he reportedly faked his death in 2021 and repeatedly altered his identity to evade capture. Officials say Chavarría continued to direct murders, attacks and drug shipments from safe havens abroad and is linked to more than 400 deaths in Ecuador. Both Ecuador and the U.S. classify Los Lobos as a terrorist organization, and officials praised cross-border police cooperation that led to the arrest. The capture underscores growing regional efforts to crack down on organized crime amid rising violence in Latin America.
‘Pipo’ Arrested in Málaga: Alleged Los Lobos Leader Apprehended After Faking His Death
Spanish and Ecuadorian authorities arrested Wilmer Geovanny 'Pipo' Chavarría Barré in Málaga after he reportedly faked his death in 2021 and repeatedly altered his identity to evade capture. Officials say Chavarría continued to direct murders, attacks and drug shipments from safe havens abroad and is linked to more than 400 deaths in Ecuador. Both Ecuador and the U.S. classify Los Lobos as a terrorist organization, and officials praised cross-border police cooperation that led to the arrest. The capture underscores growing regional efforts to crack down on organized crime amid rising violence in Latin America.
08:10 AM, 11/17/2025Security
Nov. 16 (UPI) — Spanish and Ecuadorian authorities have arrested Wilmer Geovanny "Pipo" Chavarría Barré, the suspected leader of the violent Ecuadorian gang Los Lobos, in the southern Spanish city of Málaga after he reportedly staged his own death in 2021 to evade capture.
Capture and Allegations
Spain's National Police confirmed that Chavarría was detained in Málaga following a coordinated investigation with Ecuadorian authorities. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa praised the operation and called Chavarría "the most wanted criminal in the region" and the "top leader" of Los Lobos.
'Some wrote him off as dead; we hunted him down in his very own hell. That's the difference when there's the will to fight for your country,' Noboa said. 'I recognize and thank the joint efforts of the Ecuadorian and Spanish National Police. To combat transnational crime, international cooperation is a necessity.'
How He Evaded Justice
Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimberg said authorities believe Chavarría faked his death in 2021, used forged documents and altered his appearance multiple times — reportedly changing his face seven times — to avoid detection. Reimberg added that Chavarría continued to direct murders, attacks, and drug shipments while on the run from safe havens in Dubai, Spain, Morocco and other locations.
'He is responsible for more than 400 deaths in Ecuador,' Reimberg said. 'We tracked him country by country. He thought he could hide in Europe, but we were waiting for him.'
Regional Impact and International Response
Both Ecuador and the United States have designated Los Lobos as a terrorist organization. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau congratulated Ecuadorian authorities, stressing the need for active government responses to organized crime.
'Remember: if governments aren't attacking crime, it's because they're complicit -- tolerating crime is a choice, not a destiny,' Landau said.
The arrest comes as several Latin American leaders, including Ecuador's Noboa, face scrutiny and praise for hard-line crackdowns on gangs and cartels. The report also notes recent unrest in Mexico City after clashes between police and protesters from a decentralized Gen Z movement, sparked in part by the assassination of Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo, who had gained attention for confronting organized crime.
What happens next: Chavarría is expected to face extradition proceedings and criminal charges related to organized crime, homicide, and drug trafficking. Authorities from Ecuador and Spain will likely coordinate further investigations into Los Lobos’ transnational activities.