Los Lobos (English: The Wolves) is an Ecuadorian criminal organization that specializes in drug trafficking and working as hitmen for international partners or allied groups.[7] Los Lobos began as a splinter group of the Los Choneros drug cartel, but broke away in 2020 after the death of Jorge Luis Zambrano, along with Los Chone Killers and Los Tiguerones. The group has over 8,000 members and mainly operates in cities of Latacunga, Cuenca, and Machala, and also in the province of Pastaza.[8] Los Lobos participates in exporting cocaine from Ecuador.[9]
| Founded | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founding location |  Ecuador |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Ethnicity | Ecuadorian |
| Membership | 8,000+[1] |
| Leader(s) | Wilmer Chavarría (former), Alexander Quesada[2][3] |
| Allies | Jalisco New Generation Cartel[4] Los Tiguerones Los Chone Killers Albanian mafia[5] FARC 48th Front[6] |
| Rivals | Los Choneros |
History
editLos Lobos began as a splinter group of the Los Choneros drug cartel. After the assassination of Jorge Luis Zambrano, the gang's leader, in 2020, a vacuum was left in the organization's leadership. Due to their weakened position, several gangs, including Los Lobos, broke away and formed a new alliance to combat them. They referred to themselves as the Nueva Generación.[10]
Members of Los Lobos were involved in several prison riots across Ecuador. On 28 September 2021, a dispute between Los Lobos and Los Choneros in the Litoral Penitentiary, Guayaquil, led to a riot that killed 123 inmates and injured over 80. It was the deadliest prison riot in Ecuador's history.[11] On 4 April 2022, riots broke out in Turi prison, Cuenca which killed at least 20 inmates. Alexander Quesada, the leader of Los Lobos, and Marcelo Anchundia, the leader of rival gang R7, were reportedly behind the riot.[12] On 9 May 2022, at least 44 inmates were killed and over 100 managed to escape after a riot in Bellavista prison, Santo Domingo. The riot was fought between members of Los Lobos and R7 in an attempt to kill Anchundia, who had been transferred to the prison along with Quesada.[13]
In November 2022, Los Lobos, along with their ally Los Tiguerones, were behind a wave of violence across Ecuador after many of their members were transferred out of the Litoral Penitentiary, which they feared would result in a loss of control over the prison. During the wave of violence, two headless bodies were found hanging from a bridge,[14] inmates took eight guards hostage,[15] nine car bombs were set off in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Guayas,[16] and five police officers were shot dead.[17][18]
On 9 August 2023, masked men claiming to be members of Los Lobos claimed responsibility for the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio in a video. In a second video, other men purporting to be members of Los Lobos denied playing a role in the assassination and said that they were being framed.[19] An investigation found that the order to kill Villavicencio came from inside a prison. An inmate imprisoned in the Latacunga jail who had sent messages to one of the gunmen and a woman who was accused by prosecutors of providing the assailants with logistical support were both allegedly members of the gang.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Who is Los Lobos?". World Bulletin. 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Lobos". InSight Crime. 8 November 2022.
- ^ "Quién es Bermúdez, el reo cuyo traslado a La Roca ha generado disturbios en El Inca". El Universo (in Spanish). 18 November 2022.
- ^ Green, Emily (10 August 2023). "Ecuador's Fernando Villavicencio Said He Wasn't Afraid of the Cartels. Then He Was Assassinated". Vice.
- ^ "Albanian-linked gang leader 'The Savage' broken out of prison as cartels vie for power in Ecuador". The Telegraph. 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Colombian and Mexican Cartels Pick Sides in Ecuador's Drug War". Insight Crime. 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Lobos". InSight Crime. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "¿Quiénes son la banda Los Lobos? Te explicamos". GK (in Spanish). 21 October 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Narcotrafficking Increases Violence in Ecuador". Diálogo Américas. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Lobos". InSight Crime. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Death toll in Ecuador prison riot exceeds 100 with some inmates beheaded". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "At least 20 killed in Ecuador prison riot". CNN. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Dalby, Chris (10 May 2022). "Ecuador's Smaller Gangs Making Deadly Statements in Large-Scale Massacres". InSight Crime. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Ecuador Gang War: Two Bodies Dangled From City Bridge". www.barrons.com. AFP. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Ecuador declares emergency after 5 police officers killed, prison guards taken hostage, headless bodies hung from bridge". CBS News. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Shuldiner, Henry (6 June 2022). "Car Bombs Send Shock Waves Through Ecuador". InSight Crime. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Valencia, Alexandra (2 November 2022). "Five police killed in Ecuador; state of emergency declared". Reuters. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Lobos". InSight Crime. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ Davis, Charles R. (10 August 2023). "Ecuadorian gang 'Los Lobos' denies killing presidential candidate". Insider. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Murder of Ecuadorean candidate 'planned from jail'". BBC News. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.