Arrests in Spain: Ecuadorian Criminal Leaders Linked to TV Attack Uncovered
Ecuador's police have confirmed the arrest of two men in Spain who are implicated in a high-profile attack on TC Televisión, a public television network in Ecuador, earlier this year. The individuals, William Alcivar, known as Comandante Willy, and his brother Alex Alcivar, alias Ronco, are the notorious leaders of the criminal organization Los Tiguerones. They were apprehended in Segur de Calafell, a small town in Catalonia, while in possession of counterfeit documents.
The incident at TC Televisión occurred on January 9, when a group of 13 armed individuals stormed the studio, interrupting a live broadcast and taking several employees hostage. Astonishingly, the cameras were able to capture approximately twenty minutes of the chaos. After two hours of tense standoff, the armed assailants were eventually subdued by law enforcement.
This attack transpired in a volatile environment in Ecuador, which was dealing with a surge of violence following the escape of a leader from a rival criminal organization. The aftermath saw riots erupt both within prisons and the wider community, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. In response to the escalating threat, 22 criminal groups, including Los Tiguerones, were officially labeled as terrorist organizations.
In addition to their involvement in the attack on TC Televisión, the Alcivar brothers are also accused of orchestrating several murders, including that of a prosecutor who was actively investigating their activities. This adds another layer of seriousness to their criminal profile and further underscores the rampant lawlessness attributed to such gangs in Ecuador.
As authorities continue to grapple with widespread violence, the arrest of these two high-profile criminals in Spain highlights the international dimensions of their operations and the lengths to which law enforcement must go to address organized crime that transcends borders.
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