Prosecutors in Ecuador have charged former interior minister José Serrano and six others with alleged indirect roles in the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot at a Quito rally days before the election. Five suspects convicted in 2024 were jailed for orchestrating the attack, while the alleged gunman was killed at the scene and six detainees were later found murdered in custody. Several accused are now fugitives abroad, and Interpol red notices and extradition requests are underway as pre-trial hearings continue.
Ecuador Charges Ex-Interior Minister and Six Others Over 2023 Assassination of Fernando Villavicencio
Fernando Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign event in the capital, Quito, days before the election in 2023 [Getty Images]
Prosecutors in Ecuador have formally charged former interior minister José Serrano and six others with alleged indirect involvement in the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio was shot dead at a campaign event in Quito days before the election, a killing authorities say was linked to the Los Lobos criminal gang.
Who Has Been Charged and Where They Are
The Attorney General's Office named seven suspects accused of playing an indirect role in arranging the attack. Five of the seven are currently considered fugitives: Serrano and Xavier Jordán are reported to be in the United States, former assemblyman Ronny Aleaga is believed to be in Venezuela, and alleged gang leader Wilmer "Pipo" Chavarria remains in Spain with an extradition request pending. Interpol red notices have been requested for their arrest and extradition.
Arrests, Convictions and Violence in Custody
In 2024, five people tied to Los Lobos were convicted and jailed for orchestrating Villavicencio's murder. The alleged gunman was killed at the scene of the shooting. Separately, several suspects who had been detained while awaiting trial were later found murdered in prison; authorities say six detainees were discovered dead in custody.
Ángel Esteban Aguilar (centre) was arrested in Mexico City in March after fleeing Ecuador [Getty Images]
Another Los Lobos member, Ángel Esteban Aguilar — known as "Lobo Menor" — was arrested in Mexico City in March after a red notice was issued and subsequently returned to Ecuador. Aguilar had previously been sentenced in 2013 to 20 years for the murder of Serrano's brother but fled after being granted parole. Senior gang member Luis Arboleda is also among those accused.
Legal Process and Political Context
Pre-trial hearings are underway as a judge decides whether prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence to proceed to a full trial. Villavicencio, a former journalist turned legislator, was widely known for his anti-corruption platform and for publicly alleging ties between organized crime and government officials. Despite repeated death threats and being provided with a security detail, he continued to campaign publicly.
Daniel Noboa, who won the election, has pursued a hardline, military-style approach to dismantling criminal gangs since taking office.
Regional Dynamics
Ecuador's geography — positioned between Colombia and Peru, two of the world's largest cocaine producers — has made it an important transit route for drug trafficking. Gangs such as Los Lobos have exploited corruption, violence and international ties, including reported connections with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel, to control trafficking corridors.
Next steps: Prosecutors will seek to move to full trials if judges find the pre-trial evidence sufficient. International cooperation and extradition efforts remain central to the investigation.
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