Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The alleged leader of the violent Ecuadorian gang Los Lobos has been captured in Spain by Spanish and Ecuadorian authorities after he faked his death, officials said Sunday.

Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría Barré, known as "Pipo" Chavarría, was arrested in the city of Malaga, Spain's National Police said in a statement.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa called Chavarría "the most wanted criminal in the region" and the "top leader" of Los Lobos.

"Some wrote him off as dead; we hunted him down in his very own hell. That's the difference when there's the will to fight for your country," Noboa said. "I recognize and thank the joint efforts of the Ecuadorian and Spanish National Police. To combat transnational crime, international cooperation is a necessity."

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