Blow to the finances of the criminal gang Los Lobos: 21 people arrested for multi-million dollar cocaine trafficking

Daniel Noboa reported the arrest of Jackson Felipe Zambrano in Ecuador (@DanielNoboaOk)An operation in Ecuador, with support from Europol and Spain's Civil Guard, left 21 people detained on Thursday for an alleged transnational structure dedicated to cocaine trafficking. Among those arrested is Jackson Felipe Zambrano, whom authorities identified as one of the financiers of Wilmer Chavarría, alias "Pipo," leader of the criminal gang Los Lobos."We captured Jackson Felipe Zambrano, one of the main financiers of alias Pipo," wrote President Daniel Noboa on his X account. The president stated that the organization, dismantled with the cooperation of European forces, was hiding drug shipments worth USD 1,765 million. Alias "Pipo," whose name is Wilmer Chavarría, leads Los Lobos, one of the largest criminal gangs in Ecuador. The United States designated it as a foreign terrorist organization in 2025. The Ecuadorian government requested Chavarría's extradition from Spain, where he has resided since 2022. Interior Minister John Reimberg stated that the network allegedly moved more than 42 tons of cocaine since 2019 to destinations such as Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Jackson Felipe Zambrano, arrested in Ecuador (@DanielNoboaOk)Security forces carried out 23 raids in the coastal provinces of Guayas and Los Ríos, and during the operation they arrested two active-duty police officers. Reimberg indicated that the investigation also detected an alleged relationship between the organization and 15 export companies dealing in fruit, cocoa, shellfish, and timber, in addition to links with the Balkan mafia. The Ecuadorian National Police stated in a communiqué that the network bought the drugs in Colombia, transported them to Ecuador, and then shipped them by sea to Europe. Ecuador's Attorney General's Office reported that a judge will determine the legal status of the detainees in the coming hours. Ecuador is located between Colombia and Peru, two of the world's leading drug producers, according to the United Nations. Authorities maintain that the country functions as a collection and distribution point for shipments destined for international markets. In 2025, Ecuadorian authorities seized more than 214 tons of drugs. So far in 2026, the figure is approaching 170 tons, according to information released by Reimberg. The official highlighted that the investigation that led to Thursday's operation against the drug trafficking network in Ecuador began in October 2024, following the seizure of some 13,000 packages of cocaine at the Spanish port of Algeciras. The container intercepted in Spain had departed from a port terminal in Guayaquil, in southwestern Ecuador. The discovery launched an investigation into the route used to ship cargo to Europe. The Attorney General's Office is investigating a network of alleged organized crime that allegedly used clandestine airstrips, armored vehicles, and aviation fuel to sustain international drug trafficking operations. (Primicias)During the operation in the early hours of the morning, authorities also seized 630 kilos of cocaine and a ton and a half of drugs, a volume valued at USD 85 million. With that seizure, the value of the drugs attributed to the organization under investigation rose to USD 1,765 million. Minister Reimberg stated that the structure allegedly operated since 2019 and would have a presence in the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, and Pichincha, whose capital is Quito. The investigation also identified connections with individuals established in Europe and the United Arab Emirates. During the operation, authorities also arrested Óscar Sánchez, head of Economic Crimes of the Judicial Police Brigade of the Madrid Superior Police Headquarters. The investigation determined that the official was hiding 20 million euros in the walls of his home and his office. For this reason, he remains in pretrial detention.(With information from Associated Press)