Arrest of Leaders of Ecuador’s Tiguerones Could Further Fracture Gang
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Loading... - Frieda Wagner
- 29 Oct 2024
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The recent capture of William Alcívar Bautista, known as “Willy” or “Negro Willy,” marks a significant development in Ecuador's ongoing battle against organized crime. As the leader of the Tiguerones, one of the country’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations, his arrest in Spain could lead to further fragmentation of the gang, which has been a crucial player in the international cocaine supply chain.
Willy was apprehended in Tarragona, Spain, during a joint operation by Spanish and Ecuadorian police, alongside his brother, Álex Alcívar Bautista, alias “Ronco,” who served as the Tiguerones’ second-in-command. Reports indicate that the brothers were living in Europe under false identities, highlighting the lengths to which they went to evade law enforcement.
The Tiguerones gained notoriety in January 2024 when armed members of the gang disrupted a live TV broadcast, an incident that underscored Ecuador's escalating violence and chaos. Following this event, President Daniel Noboa declared the country to be in an “internal armed conflict,” reflecting the severity of the situation.
The Tiguerones originated within Ecuador's prison system, where Willy worked as a guard. He initially collaborated with Jorge Luis Zambrano, alias “Rasquiña,” the leader of the Choneros gang. After Rasquiña's murder in late 2020, the Choneros fractured, leading to the formation of the Tiguerones as a faction. Over the years, the group has experienced various power struggles, including alliances and conflicts with other gangs, notably the Lobos.
Willy's escape from Ecuador after his 2018 prison release and Ronco's subsequent rise to power in Esmeraldas have contributed to the gang's violent reputation. The Tiguerones have been implicated in numerous mass killings and violent incidents, particularly in Esmeraldas, which has become one of the country’s most dangerous cities.
The arrest of Willy and Ronco comes at a time when the Tiguerones are already facing challenges to their power. Ecuador's militarized security measures, initiated by President Noboa in January 2024, have weakened the gang's influence. Additionally, rival gang the Lobos has intensified attacks in Esmeraldas, further destabilizing the Tiguerones.
Willy's leadership was seen as a unifying force within the gang, and his absence, along with that of Ronco, could lead to increased fragmentation. This atomization may result in heightened violence as rival gangs attempt to exploit the Tiguerones' weakened state, and remaining leaders vie for control in the power vacuum left by the arrests.
The capture of the Alcívar Bautista brothers represents a critical juncture in Ecuador's fight against organized crime. As the Tiguerones face internal strife and external pressures, the potential for increased violence looms large. The situation remains fluid, and the coming months will be crucial in determining the future of the Tiguerones and the broader landscape of criminal activity in Ecuador.
