Ecuadorian Gang Leader ‘Willy’ Evades Justice, Living Freely in Spain

William Joffre Alcívar Bautista, known alias “Willy,” the alleged leader of the Tiguerones—one of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs and a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)—is currently living free in Spain, despite ongoing efforts by Ecuadorian authorities to bring him to justice.

Willy’s gang gained global notoriety on January 9, 2024, when they stormed a live television broadcast in Guayaquil. In response to the escalating gang violence, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared an internal conflict against more than 20 criminal groups that same day, officially designating organizations like the Tiguerones as terrorist entities.

The Ecuadorian government accuses Willy of orchestrating the armed takeover of TC Television while he was abroad, leading to an international arrest warrant on charges of terrorism. Additionally, Ecuadorian authorities link him to car bombings, contract killings, and extensive extortion rings.

Willy was arrested by Spanish law enforcement in Catalonia on October 22, 2024. Although Spain approved Ecuador’s extradition requests, it conditioned the transfer on Ecuador providing specific human rights and safety guarantees. When these guarantees failed to arrive in a timely manner, Spanish authorities released Willy in December 2025.

In a March 2026 interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Willy denied any involvement in the Guayaquil television station attack. He claimed his life now centers on a used car business based in Colombia, with aspirations to establish a chain of barber shops in Spain.

Willy’s criminal career began in the prison system, where he eventually founded the Tiguerones. Under his leadership, the group became highly dominant in extortion and drug trafficking operations across Esmeraldas and sections of Guayaquil. Originally a faction of the Choneros, the Tiguerones split to become an independent entity following internal power struggles. They later allied with the Nueva Generación coalition to traffic drugs for Mexico’s powerful Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG). Today, the group remains highly fractured in Guayaquil, fiercely competing with rival groups like the Lobos for territorial dominance in northwestern Ecuador.

Ecuadorian authorities continue to actively pursue Willy’s extradition to face charges on home soil.

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