The Minister of the Interior of Ecuador, John Reimberg, rejected the accusations made by drug trafficker Wilmer Chavarría, alias 'Pipo', who tried to link President Daniel Noboa with the murder of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, which occurred in August 2023. The daughters of the deceased politician declared that it was an attempt to "evade Justice" and "wash the face of Correism." Below, the keys to the accusation, within the framework of an extradition process.
First modification: 02/26/2026 - 19:51 Last modification: 02/26/2026 - 20:27
As “absurd” the Government of Ecuador described the statements of the drug trafficker and boss of the 'Los Lobos' cartel, Wilmer Chavarría, alias 'Pipo', who – without presenting evidence – accused President Daniel Noboa of being behind the murder of the then presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. A crime that occurred in 2023 that shocked Latin America and showed the escalation of violence in a country that was considered one of the safest in the region.
His statements occurred in the middle of an interrogation before a court in Zaragoza, Spain, where he was detained during an operation in November 2025.
The Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg, rejected the accusations, emphasizing that the accusations respond to Chavarría's fear of his possible extradition and imprisonment in Ecuador.
"Absurd. They are terrified of extradition and the El Encuentro prison and that now they will pay for their crimes. They are capable of inventing the most sordid nonsense in order to evade their responsibility," Reimberg remarked.
The head of the Interior reiterated the Noboa Government's position of maintaining a policy of “zero impunity” against organized crime. Furthermore, he anticipated that, if his extradition takes place, Chavarría will be held in the maximum security prison built during the current Administration, intended to house leaders of criminal organizations.
The Ecuadorian Government insists that Chavarría's extradition is a priority within its strategy to dismantle the main organized crime structures in the country.
What is known about the declaration of alias 'Pipo' against Noboa?
According to sources in the drug trafficker's defense, cited by the EFE news agency, the detainee declared that a person close to Minister John Reimberg had told him that the crime was ordered by the current Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, out of fear that Villavicencio would win the elections.
In addition to accusing the president of supposedly being behind the murdered Villavicencio, who was a candidate in the elections that brought Noboa to the Executive, the leader of Los Lobos assured that he received threats from an alleged emissary linked to Minister Reimberg when he was detained in Malaga, Spain. The criminal indicated that in the room where he would have received the alleged coercion there were security cameras that should be consulted.
Even alias 'Pipo' maintained that the Government of his country seeks to remove him from the illicit drug trafficking business by considering him a "competitor" in a market in which, he stated, the president "is playing an important role."
To display this content from X (Twitter), you must allow audience measurement and advertising cookies.
However, there is no known evidence to support his statement. His accusation comes without evidence and in the middle of a key judicial process that could return him to his country to serve a sentence, while denying any participation in the assassination of Villavicencio.
The man, accused by Quito of more than 400 murders and of being the top leader of one of the most dangerous drug cartels in Latin America, accused the Noboa Administration of trying to "deceive" the Spanish authorities into extraditing him to Ecuador.
Chavarría was arrested on November 16, 2025 at the Malaga airport, after remaining on the run for years. According to investigations, the drug trafficker operated from abroad, mainly between Dubai and Spain, where he directed illicit activities such as drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion.
Read alsoReport from Guayaquil: Daniel Noboa is accused of killing Fernando Villavicencio
What does Fernando Villavicencio's family respond?
In an interview with the EFE news agency, the daughters of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio rejected the accusations of drug trafficker Wilmer Chavarría, alias 'Pipo', against President Daniel Noboa, and assured that they are part of a strategy to divert attention from judicial investigations and evade responsibilities.
Amanda Villavicencio stated that the leader of the criminal organization Los Lobos is trying to “wash his face with Correismo, wash his face with Los Lobos and try to save himself,” after denying his participation in the murder of his father and accusing the Ecuadorian president without evidence. "They are condemned, there is really nowhere to run. I believe that the investigations have been conclusive and the evidence is also conclusive," he said along with his sister Tamia.
Tamia Villavicencio questioned the criminal's version and assured that, at the time of the murder, which occurred in August 2023 during the electoral campaign, Noboa had no political relevance. “It's not that we don't want everyone who may be involved to be investigated, it's about going to the evidence,” he asserted, adding that the now head of state emerged as a political figure after the crime, when his candidacy gained momentum in a scenario marked by national commotion.
The Villavicencio sisters maintain that the statements of the leader of 'Los Lobos' respond to an attempt to discredit the tax investigation, which has identified as the alleged intellectual authors the businessmen Xavier Jordán and Daniel Salcedo, as well as the former assemblyman Ronny Aleaga and the former minister José Serrano, all linked to corruption plots. "There is a strong judicial case, which has evidence. These are not just words from people who benefit from this chaos that is generated behind the investigation," said Amanda.
Finally, both indicated that the murder of their father is part of a broader organized crime structure with alleged political connections. They also considered that President Noboa should respond publicly to the accusations against him, remembering that much of his electoral support came from voters who supported Villavicencio's candidacy.
Read also Xavier Jordán, Ecuadorian businessman accused in the Fernando Villavicencio case, is arrested in the US
Alias 'Pipo', the most wanted drug trafficker in Ecuador
His name came to the public scene after his capture in Spain in November 2025, in a coordinated operation between Ecuadorian and Spanish security forces, who considered him one of the most wanted criminals in Ecuador.
Chavarría Barré is identified as the top leader of Los Lobos, an organization linked to drug trafficking, hitmen and violent attacks, which has extended its influence inside and outside Ecuadorian territory.
According to the Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office, alias 'Pipo' faces investigations for multiple crimes, including drug trafficking, robbery and terrorism, in addition to alleged procedural fraud.
The authorities point out that to evade justice, he used multiple false identities, faked his death during the Covid-19 pandemic and underwent cosmetic surgeries in order to alter his appearance.
The authorities consider him a key figure within contemporary organized crime in Ecuador, in a context marked by the strengthening of criminal gangs with international ties.
His leadership in 'Los Lobos' positioned him as one of the main articulators of criminal networks dedicated to drug trafficking and other illicit activities, which made him a priority objective for security forces.
In fact, after his capture, more than three months ago, President Noboa publicly stated that he was the “most wanted” criminal by the authorities of his country.
Read alsoEcuador's Prosecutor's Office will charge former Correismo officials for the murder of Fernando Villavicencio
With EFE and local media
Related keywords
The content you requested does not exist or is no longer available.
