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Joint Operation by Mexico and Colombia Leads to Capture of Key Suspect in Villavicencio Murder

KVIA•Thursday, March 19, 2026 at 12:34 PM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

A collaborative security operation between Mexico and Colombia resulted in the arrest of Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, known as 'Lobo Menor', in Mexico City. He is suspected of being one of the masterminds behind the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was killed in August 2023. The operation was executed by Mexican authorities, including the Secretariat of Security and the Navy, alongside Colombian police, utilizing real-time intelligence. Morales was apprehended while attempting to evade immigration controls using a false identity. His arrest is seen as a significant blow to transnational organized crime and highlights the importance of international cooperation in combating such networks.

Key Details: • Morales was captured in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City. • He was wanted internationally under an Interpol red notice. • The operation was named 'JERICÓ' and involved multiple law enforcement agencies. • Villavicencio was assassinated in August 2023 after a political rally in Quito. • Ecuador's Interior Minister warned that fugitives will be pursued relentlessly.

crime ecuador mexico narcotrafficking international-cooperation

People & Organizations

Gustavo PetroMigración ColombiaCiudad de MéxicoBogotáPolicía Nacional de ColombiaQuitoJhon ReimbergFernando VillavicencioÁngel Esteban Aguilar MoralesGloria ArrieroPolancoMiguel HidalgoSecretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana de MéxicoSecretaría de la MarinaInstituto de Migración de México

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