Trending Now - Ecuador Gang Leader Arrested for Murder of Presidential Candidate
WHO:
Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, known as “Lobo Menor”
Fernando Villavicencio, Ecuadorian presidential candidate
Colombian President Gustavo Petro
Ecuadorian criminal gang “Los Lobos”
Colombian migration authorities
Interpol
WHAT:
Aguilar was arrested in Mexico and transferred to Colombia.
He is accused of helping organize the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio on August 9th, 2023.
Aguilar is one of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitives and is subject to an Interpol Red Notice.
The arrest was carried out without the use of violence.
Aguilar attempted to evade immigration controls using a false identity as a Colombian citizen.
In February 2026, new evidence was presented linking Aguilar to the Villavicencio case.
WHERE:
Mexico City, Mexico
Bogotá, Colombia
Quito, Ecuador
El Dorado Airport, Bogotá, Colombia
WHEN:
Arrest occurred on March 18th, 2026.
Villavicencio was assassinated on August 9th, 2023.
Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with Ecuador in April 2024.
WHY:
Aguilar is linked to the assassination of Villavicencio, which was part of a broader context of organized crime in the region.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro highlighted police cooperation as a significant blow against transnational organized crime.
HOW:
Mexican authorities placed Aguilar under real-time surveillance upon his entry into Mexico.
Intelligence provided by Colombia helped locate Aguilar in Mexico City.
Aguilar entered Mexico using a forged passport.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 23:18 UTC)
In a significant development today, Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, also known as “Lobo Menor,” was arrested in Mexico and transferred to Colombia, where he faces accusations of organizing the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023. Aguilar, one of Ecuador's most-wanted fugitives and subject to an Interpol Red Notice, attempted to evade immigration controls by using a false identity as a Colombian citizen but was apprehended without violence, thanks to intelligence from Colombian authorities. This arrest marks a crucial step in the fight against transnational organized crime, as highlighted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and follows new evidence linking Aguilar to the Villavicencio case presented just last month.