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🇪🇨 Ecuador /Crime & Justice

Ecuador Announces Arrival of 'Gato Negro,' Los Tiguerones Leader Captured in Colombia

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Ecuador's government announced the arrival of "Gato Negro," a high-ranking leader of the criminal group Los Tiguerones, captured in Colombia.
  • Gato Negro, identified as the second-in-command behind "Willy," faces charges including murder and is wanted by Interpol.
  • His capture is part of an international effort involving Ecuadorian, Colombian, and U.S. authorities to combat organized crime.

Ecuadorian authorities have announced the arrival of a key figure in organized crime, alias 'Gato Negro,' who was captured in Colombia. The second-in-command of the notorious Los Tiguerones gang is being transferred to Ecuador to face justice.

Identified as Galo Javier Suárez Román, 'Gato Negro' was apprehended in Barranquilla, Colombia, through a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and police from Ecuador, Colombia, and the U.S. Marshals. He is wanted by Ecuadorian justice for a 2017 murder case and had previously escaped from a Guayaquil prison in 2019.

Minister of the Interior John Reimberg stated that 'Gato Negro' also faces investigation for allegedly planning and financing a terrorist attack. His extradition to Ecuador is underway, and he is slated for confinement at the El Encuentro detention center. This capture highlights ongoing international cooperation to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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