Ecuadorian Police Capture Fugitive Gang Leader
In a dramatic turn of events, Ecuadorian police have successfully captured Fabricio Colón Pico, the elusive leader of the notorious criminal gang known as Los Lobos.
Colón Pico had been on the run since his daring escape from prison on January 8th, adopting a new identity with blonde hair to evade authorities.
Authorities managed to track down Colón Pico to the town of Puerto Quito, where he was finally apprehended. Ecuador’s attorney-general, Diana Salazar, has accused him of plotting to assassinate her.
As one of the most wanted individuals in the country, Colón Pico and his gang have been linked to various criminal activities, including the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicenio last year.
Los Lobos, with an estimated 8,000 members, is believed to have ties to the Mexican Jalisco New Generation cartel, engaging in drug trafficking and carrying out contract killings.
After months of intensive investigation, police were able to arrest Colón Pico in the early hours of Monday, ending his months-long evasion of capture following the prison escape.
His escape from Riobamba prison during a wave of riots and violence shocked the nation, with twenty of the fugitives quickly recaptured while Colón Pico remained at large.
The arrest coincides with a referendum in which a majority of Ecuadorians supported tougher security measures to combat rising crime rates, including allowing soldiers to patrol the streets and imposing harsher penalties on drug traffickers.
President Daniel Noboa welcomed the referendum results, stating that the government now has enhanced tools to combat crime and bring peace back to Ecuadorian families. — BBC
