Top Ecuadorian Los Lobos leader, and CJNG ally, arrested in Spain. FTO links across four continents!

Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría Barre, alias “Pipo,” was arrested in Málaga, Spain after arriving from Morocco under a false identity. Spanish and Ecuadorian authorities say he is the top leader of Ecuador’s Los Lobos gang, responsible for hundreds of murders, prison massacres, car-bomb attacks, and extortion schemes (including illegal gold mining). He had previously faked his death during the COVID period and used Venezuelan/Colombian documents to move between Europe and the Gulf while allegedly continuing to coordinate operations from abroad.

From a compliance / EDD standpoint, the interconnectedness between Los Lobos, CJNG, and broader international networks makes risk assessment much harder than simply screening for an Ecuadorian gang name

Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría Barre, alias “Pipo,” arrested in Málaga, Spain