An international police operation has captured Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales. He is believed to be the leader of the Los Lobos drug group. Morales was wanted for the killing of Fernando Villavicencio. Mr. Villavicencio was a presidential candidate in Ecuador. Morales was caught at Mexico City Airport. He tried to enter Mexico using a fake name.
This arrest is a big success for police. It shows good teamwork between countries. It is a setback for criminal groups. These groups have caused problems in Ecuador and nearby areas. Mr. Villavicencio was killed about one year ago. That event shocked Ecuador. It showed the danger from strong criminal gangs. Five people were recently found guilty for this killing. They were linked to Los Lobos.
Morales was trying to travel through Mexico. He used fake papers from Colombia. Ecuador's navy and police worked with Mexico and Colombia. Interpol had put out an alert for Morales. This means police everywhere should look for him. After his arrest, Morales was sent to Colombia. He will face many charges there.
This arrest is important. It is more than just catching one person. The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, said it was a big hit to crime. He also said cooperation between the three countries worked well. Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, sent a warning. He said they will find and catch other leaders.
Morales led Los Lobos. This group does many bad things. They traffic drugs, steal money, and kill people. Their actions have increased violence in Ecuador. This arrest shows police can stop these groups. They can do this even when leaders try to hide in other countries. The Los Lobos group is complex. Another leader, Carlos Angulo, is already in jail. Morales's arrest is an important step to stop the group.