Mexican authorities capture alleged drug trafficker linked to assassination of Fernando Villavicencio
An alleged Mexican drug trafficking kingpin was detained on Mexican territory for his suspected connection to the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023.
Mexican authorities capture alleged drug trafficker linked to assassination of Fernando Villavicencio
Mexican authorities detained an individual identified as an alleged drug trafficker who is believed to be connected to the murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, which occurred in August 2023. The arrest took place on Mexican territory.
Villavicencio, a former legislator who had been prominent for his denunciations of corruption and organised crime, was shot dead at the conclusion of a campaign event in Quito. His death shocked the country and generated a political crisis during the electoral process.
According to information released, the individual detained in Mexico would have links to the criminal organisation Los Lobos, one of Ecuador's most violent gangs. This group is believed to have been the intellectual author of the crime, although the Ecuadorian investigation has also pointed to other criminal factions.
The arrest on Mexican territory represents progress in international investigations into the case, which until now had resulted in the detention of several alleged hitmen and collaborators, but had not fully clarified the chain of command that ordered the assassination.
Ecuadorian and Mexican authorities have not provided further details about the identity of the detainee or about the next steps regarding extradition or judicial cooperation.
_Source: Bloomberg_
Source: Google News EC — Crime