Ecuador arrests gang leader in presidential candidate assassination

Ecuador is trying to control violence by declaring a 90-day state of emergency to crack down on 22 gangs considered terrorist groups, including Los Lobos.

Security forces and police cordon off an area in Ecuador. Photo: Reuters

Authorities said two gang members were injured during the arrest of a man known as Vicente. Soldiers also made 12 arrests and seized $200,000 in cash, as well as weapons, ammunition and explosives.

Last month, the prosecutor’s office said it had filed charges against five suspects accused of involvement in the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot dead in Quito before the election. Two Los Lobos commanders accused of plotting Villavicencio’s assassination have been jailed.

Villavicencio, a former congressman and journalist, was shot as he left a campaign event, becoming the most high-profile victim of Ecuador's escalating violence.

According to some reports, the Los Lobos gang has thousands of members and runs criminal operations inside Ecuador's violent prison system.

Bui Huy (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ecuador-bat-thu-linh-bang-dang-trong-vu-am-sat-ung-vien-tong-thong-post289866.html