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Mexican authorities have announced the arrest of a key leader of an Ecuadorian gang responsible for mass violence and the orchestration of high-profile assassinations in Ecuador.
Getting into it: In a statement, Mexico’s security officials confirmed the capture of Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, known as “Lobo Menor,” a senior figure in the criminal group Los Lobos and one of Ecuador’s most-wanted fugitives. Authorities say Aguilar was detained at Mexico City’s international airport after arriving on a flight from Colombia using a forged passport and a false identity, which triggered authorities to begin tracking his movements before carrying out a coordinated operation to take him into custody.
Investigators in Ecuador have identified Aguilar as a central figure behind the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, with authorities alleging he helped coordinate the attack and manage those involved while keeping the plot from being exposed. The killing, which happened as Villavicencio was leaving a political event in Quito, became one of the most shocking assassinations in the country’s recent history. Aguilar has also been linked to other assassinations and acts of violence attributed to Los Lobos, a gang that has expanded rapidly and is known for its role in prison massacres, territorial control, and contract killings.
Authorities further allege that Aguilar operated within a broader network of transnational organized crime, maintaining ties with Mexican cartels, particularly the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Following his arrest, Aguilar was transferred to Colombia as part of legal and security arrangements between the three countries, where he is expected to face initial proceedings before potential extradition to Ecuador, where he is wanted in connection with Villavicencio’s murder.
Ecuadorian authorities, including Interior Minister John Reimberg, have welcomed the arrest, warning that criminal leaders will be pursued regardless of where they attempt to hide and emphasizing continued international cooperation to dismantle groups like Los Lobos.
