Prosecutors in Ecuador have charged former interior minister José Serrano along with six associates for their role in the 2023 assassination of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.
Villavicencio, a journalist-turned-politician, was shot dead at a campaign event in Quito just days before the national election. The attack is linked to Los Lobos, one of the nation’s most powerful drug gangs, whose members are alleged to have orchestrated the hit.
Serrano, the hit‑man known as Wilmer “Pipo” Chavarria, was captured in Spain last year after faking his own death. Five other suspects were jailed after the 2024 murder trial, while the remaining fugitives are located in the US, Venezuela and Spain, prompting an Interpol red notice for extradition.
Villavicencio’s anti‑corruption platform and outspoken claims that organised crime colludes with state officials made him a target. Despite receiving a security detail and multiple death threats, he continued to speak at public rallies.
President Daniel Noboa has adopted a stern military approach to tackle crime gangs. However, the convictions for the murder also revealed deeper ties between Los Lobos and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s largest drug syndicates, feeding the illicit cocaine trade that passes through Ecuador.
Pre‑trial hearings are held as the Justice Ministry assesses whether the accusations warrant a full court proceeding. The case highlights the ongoing struggle between Ecuador’s democratic institutions and criminal organisations that use violence to influence political outcomes.
