On May 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Ecuador-based Los Lobos Drug Trafficking Organization and its leader Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre, also known as “Pipo.” With thousands of members, Los Lobos is currently Ecuador’s largest drug trafficking organization and has significantly contributed to the violence in the country. This action follows Treasury’s February designation of Los Choneros—a prominent Ecuadorian drug gang—and comes amid increasing violence and instability driven by criminal organizations backed by Mexico’s Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel.
“Drug trafficking groups with ties to powerful drug cartels threaten the lives and livelihoods of communities in Ecuador and throughout South and Central America,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “As today’s actions demonstrate, we steadfastly support Ecuador in its efforts to combat drug trafficking and counter the threat of drug-related violence.”
On May 22, 2024, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a new state of emergency in seven provinces due to ongoing gang violence. The January disappearance of Los Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar from a Guayaquil prison triggered widespread riots, bombings, kidnappings, an assassination of a prosecutor, and an armed attack on a TV network during a live broadcast. On January 9, President Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” state in his country and designated 22 gangs—including Los Lobos—as terrorist groups. His recent declaration follows an April referendum where voters approved measures allowing broader government powers to fight drug gangs.
Los Lobos originated as hitmen working under their now-rival gang Los Choneros. Following a power vacuum created by the assassination of a Los Choneros leader in 2020, Los Lobos filled this gap through coordinated attacks against fragmented leaderships resulting in deadly prison riots. In addition to drug trafficking, murder-for-hire operations, and illegal gold mining activities, they provide security services for CJNG's cocaine trafficking routes in Guayaquil.
Wilmer Geovanny Chavarria Barre rose to prominence while imprisoned between 2011-2018 by managing hitmen who operated under Los Choneros before becoming known as Los Lobos. In 2022, he ordered murders to seize control over valuable drug routes but remains at large with reports suggesting he may have fled Ecuador under an assumed identity.
OFAC designated both Los Lobos and Chavarria Barre pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for engaging or attempting to engage in activities contributing significantly to international illicit drug proliferation.
As a result of these sanctions, all property interests belonging to designated persons within U.S jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Transactions involving such properties are generally prohibited unless authorized by OFAC licenses or exemptions.
Today’s action is part of broader governmental efforts aimed at combating global illicit drug threats that result in numerous American deaths annually alongside countless non-fatal overdoses. OFAC continues collaborating with U.S government partners as well as foreign counterparts under President Biden’s Unity Agenda holding accountable those involved in manufacturing/selling illicit drugs globally.
The integrity behind OFAC sanctions lies not only within designating individuals/entities but also removing them from sanction lists upon legal compliance demonstrating behavioral changes positively impacting society overall.
For further details regarding today's individual/entity designations or processes related towards removal requests from sanction lists please refer directly via provided links or visit OFAC official resources online.
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