Alleged leader of Los Tiguerones captured in Colombia

An alleged leader of the Ecuadorian organized crime group Los Tiguerones has been captured in Colombia. Eduardo Cecilio V.O., identified by the alias 'Colombia,' was apprehended on August 27, 2026, in Armenia, a city in Colombia's Quindío department. The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation between the National Police of Ecuador and Colombian authorities, stemming from an investigation that pinpointed his location.

'Colombia' is a person of interest in Ecuador, facing charges for homicide and aggravated criminal conspiracy. According to investigative records, he has been involved in criminal activities for over two decades, including murder, contract killing, and drug trafficking. He was considered a key figure within Los Tiguerones, allegedly maintaining influence over the group's structure from Colombia.

This capture is the culmination of a joint investigation led by Ecuador's National Anti-Organized Crime Unit. The operation also involved Colombia's National Police, the Attorney General's Office, and specialized units. Authorities located 'Colombia' in Armenia, where a judicial order for his arrest was executed. During the intervention, four mobile phones were seized as evidence.

Ecuadorian police reports indicate that 'Colombia' had been a fugitive since March 2022, when he failed to comply with the terms of his early release from a prison sentence. He had been serving a 25-year sentence for previous crimes, including a period of incarceration in Brazil after escaping Ecuador. Despite being granted pre-release status with monthly check-in requirements, he violated these conditions and left Ecuador, reportedly moving between Cali, Medellín, and Armenia in Colombia. His alleged continued involvement in drug trafficking and contract killings, as well as his connection to a homicide in Medellín in 2022, are central to the ongoing investigation.