El ministro del Interior confirmó que Ecuador busca que alias “Pipo”, señalado como el líder y principal financista de la organización criminal Los Lobos, sea extraditado directamente a Estados Unidos. El funcionario aseguró que ya realiza las gestiones diplomáticas y judiciales necesarias para que el proceso avance en esa dirección, tras la captura del delincuente en España y la reactivación de los casos que tenía en Ecuador, archivados tras una falsa acta de defunción. “Estoy haciendo las gestiones pertinentes para que sea enviado directamente a los Estados Unidos”, dijo en una extensa entrevista en la que repasó el impacto de esta detención y los próximos pasos en la lucha contra el crimen organizado.

Alias “Pipo”, cuya identidad civil no fue mencionada en la entrevista, es considerado por las autoridades como el único cabecilla real de Los Lobos, una estructura que opera bajo un mando vertical en contraste con otros grupos criminales. El ministro sostuvo que el detenido “tiene la responsabilidad de más de 400 muertes” en Ecuador, además de su presunto rol en masacres carcelarias, ataques con coches bomba y operaciones de narcotráfico. Tras su captura en España, insistió, el objetivo del Gobierno es impedir que el proceso se prolongue y obtener su traslado inmediato a un país donde pueda enfrentar cargos graves por crimen organizado y terrorismo, figuras bajo las cuales Estados Unidos reconoció a Los Lobos.

El funcionario explicó que la detención del cabecilla se produjo en una operación coordinada con cuerpos policiales internacionales, y que Ecuador actuó en menos de 48 horas para solicitar la difusión roja de Interpol. El trámite permitió que el proceso no avanzara únicamente con fines de deportación, sino con bases para extradición. “Lo logramos en 24 horas”, afirmó, destacando que ese procedimiento suele tomar más tiempo. También reveló que, al abrirse nuevamente los procesos judiciales en Ecuador —cerrados cuando se declaró oficialmente muerto a Pipo—, abogados particulares intentan mantener la validez de esa acta de defunción pese a que el detenido se encuentra vivo en una prisión española. Calificó ese intento como una “payasada” y advirtió que espera que ningún juez ecuatoriano “se preste a eso”.

Para el Gobierno, la extradición directa a Estados Unidos forma parte de una estrategia más amplia para golpear a los altos mandos del crimen organizado. En el caso de alias “Topo”, integrante de Los Choneros, el ministro aseguró que su traslado al país norteamericano está “en camino”, dado que ya purga una sentencia de 16 años en Ecuador pero también es requerido por narcotráfico en cortes estadounidenses. Insistió en que la cooperación bilateral se mantiene “intacta”, a pesar de debates recientes en Ecuador sobre la instalación de oficinas de Homeland Security. Afirmó que ambos países sostienen “el compromiso de continuar” con operaciones conjuntas, especialmente en incautaciones marítimas y en investigaciones sobre economías criminales.

La detención de cabecillas, sostuvo, desató reacciones violentas entre organizaciones que intentan reacomodar sus territorios. Según el ministro, el 85% de las muertes violentas registradas este año son resultado de disputas entre estructuras delictivas presionadas por las intervenciones del Estado. “No vamos a pactar con los criminales. Estamos en una guerra declarada”, dijo, al justificar que el debilitamiento de Los Choneros abrió un espacio de confrontación que Los Lobos buscaron aprovechar, hasta que fueron golpeados por la captura de figuras como alias “Pipo”.

El ministro insistió en que Ecuador ha afectado “más de USD 9.000 millones” a la economía criminal mediante operativos contra la minería ilegal, incautaciones de droga y destrucción inmediata de sustancias decomisadas. Aseguró que la práctica de almacenar cocaína en bodegas —32 en todo el país durante gobiernos anteriores— facilitaba robos, incendios provocados y sustitución de cargamentos. En contraste, dijo que hoy la destrucción se realiza casi de manera inmediata, con pruebas de campo bajo supervisión fiscal. También confirmó que Ecuador será sede de reuniones con autoridades estadounidenses que buscan que el país lidere, a nivel regional, estrategias contra el tráfico de fentanilo.

El ministro adelantó que el “próximo año” se espera que los efectos de estas capturas se reflejen con mayor claridad en la seguridad ciudadana. Señaló como pieza clave la nueva cárcel de 15.120 plazas anunciada por el Gobierno, que replicará el modelo de máxima seguridad del centro El Encuentro. Según dijo, la ausencia de privilegios, el aislamiento operativo y la inhibición total de señales telefónicas ya generan un cambio en el comportamiento criminal. “Le puedo asegurar que los 320 presos que tengo ahí no la están pasando bien… Hoy sí están cumpliendo sus penas como debe ser”, aseguró.

We’ll know Wednesday morning if a special election in Tennessee is truly a referendum on country music, pedal taverns and bachelorettes.

Or, we can divine a deeper political meaning from the results of the special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District.

Democrat Aftyn Behn is trying to tip the scales in favor of her party in a district which President Donald Trump carried by about 20 points and former Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., won by a similar percentage last fall.

Behn faces GOPer Matt Van Epps. It’s a Republican district. But political observers are watching the race to gauge potential weakness by Trump, a softness in the Trump coalition, issues with the Republican brand or early indications of a possible blue wave in the 2026 midterms.

TENNESSEE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DODGES QUESTIONS ON PAST SUPPORT FOR DEFUNDING POLICE IN CONTENTIOUS INTERVIEW

It was Behn who proclaimed that she abhorred Nashville several years ago. «I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music. I hate all the things that make Nashville apparently an ‘it city,’» complained Behn.

About all Behn left out in her animus toward Music City was dissing The Grand Ole Opry, hot chicken and Goo Goo Clusters. But if voters go goo goo over Behn Tuesday, Republicans face a cluster of another sort. A Behn victory may signal major problems for Republicans and President Trump heading into the midterms.

Behn is characterized as the «AOC of Tennessee,» a reference to progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Republicans have been sure to boomerang that against Behn, suggesting she’s not in tune with the district, leans too far to the left, and is closer to the liberal values of New York or Los Angeles than Nashville. Republicans believe Behn is just a bad fit for Nashville. Kind of like having Bad Bunny perform at the Ryman Auditorium. 

«It shouldn’t even be close, but it is,» mused Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., on Fox.

So Republicans are pouring in money to protect the seat. Democrats are pouring in money to steal the seat. If Democrats pull off the upset, the party should uproot the goalposts at FirstBank Stadium in downtown Nashville and dump it in the Cumberland River. Kind of what Vanderbilt fans did last year when the Commodores upset No. 1-ranked Alabama. 

FIRST ELECTION TEST FOR TRUMP’S TERM SURPRISINGLY CLOSE IN FL, GOP LOOKS TO INCREASE RAZOR-THIN HOUSE MAJORITY 

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez listens to the testimony of witnesses during a House hearing with sanctuary city mayors on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 5, 2025. (AP Images)

Let’s explore what a Behn win might mean for Republicans. It could indicate that voters are tiring of Trump. Or that the GOP brand is toxic. Or perhaps it’s the continuation of a trend which Democrats enjoyed this fall: near blowout wins by New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill and Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

But there’s a downside for Democrats. Yes. They may flip the seat. But a win may also show that the party is tilting more to the left. It would be hard to argue with success if Behn prevails, regardless of her progressive streak. But this may give other liberals ideas that they can win in other red or purple districts. That may work against Democrats — especially since every Republican, except President Trump, has highlighted the left-wing politics of New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

Democrats probably need to run more centrist candidates in purple areas to regain control of the House. A Behn victory could open the floodgates for a host of progressive candidates in competitive House districts nationwide. Behn’s message — or that of Ocasio-Cortez or Mamdani — won’t work in most places where Democrats need to be successful to seize control of the House.

But what if Republicans hold the seat and Van Epps wins?

It probably depends by how much.

TRUMP IGNORES ELECTIONS AS DEMOCRATS STUMBLE ON THE WAY TO LIKELY VICTORIES

Democrats scored victories across the country in November 2025, with centrist and leftist candidates taking crucial positions. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Yes, there were five special elections in 2017 — the first year Trump was originally in office — which Democrats made competitive. All were closer than they should have been. But Democrats didn’t win any of them. Still, astute political observers suggested there was unpopularity with the president and the GOP agenda. Democrats won 40 seats and gained control of the House in the 2017 midterms.

So, even if Van Epps wins, examine the margin. And if Behn wins, see if Republicans downplay it because it was a special election and the customary electorate just doesn’t turn out for special elections. Especially one wedged between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

If Republicans hold the seat, the GOP will argue this was a repudiation of a leftist like Behn and someone who was out of step. They will also suggest that it’s a GOP seat and Republicans should win anyway. That’s what happened earlier this year when there was consternation before two Florida special elections. But Florida Republican Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis both won in March.

Here’s another factor which bears watching: the message the press corps and political observers glean from the election results. After all, special elections are always special. It’s natural for analysts and journalists to search for particular meanings or signposts in these contests. Such was the case with the off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. Sometimes these observations are spot-on. Other times, they mean nothing. If anything, there is a tendency to over-illuminate the outcomes of these contests. They are moments in time. Kind of like listening to a few bars of a song. Maybe it tells you a lot about the song. Maybe not.

SETTING THE STAGE: WHAT THE 2025 ELECTIONS SIGNAL FOR NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERM SHOWDOWNS

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after speaking to troops via video from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

House Republicans could well freak out if Behn is victorious. There’s lots of grumbling among Republicans. Some are frustrated by how their leadership handled the government shutdown. And others could follow Green and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and hit the exits early.

This is a fragile time for House Republicans. That’s one reason why a flip of this seat could mean a little bit more.

Still, it’s rare to flip seats in House special elections. Former Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-La., won a special election in a red district in Louisiana in 2008 after former Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., resigned. But current Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., then won that seat in the general election and served in the House before moving to the Senate.

Former Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, flipped the seat held by former Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Texas, in 2022. But she lost re-election that fall.

Former Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., won a special election in 2020 after former Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., resigned just months into office. Garcia held the seat until Rep. George Whitesides, D-Calif., defeated him a year ago.

Former Rep. Charles Djou, R-Hawaii, won a special election in Hawaii in 2010 against two Democrats – former Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii. But Democrats got the seat back in 2012. 

Former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, won a special election in 2022 to flip Alaska’s at-large district from red to blue following the death of late Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. Young held the seat for nearly 50 years. But Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, defeated Peltola last year.

In short, even if someone flips a seat, it’s rare that they have the seat for long. Often, only through the next regular election.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

So a word of caution as you evaluate the election results on Tuesday night. If Republicans hold the seat, that may be expected. If Democrats flip the seat, some will proclaim it’s the second coming of the Music City Miracle. 

But frankly, it’s probably not.

Décima visita y muy debilitado

Problemas de corrupción

Los negocios sucios de la guerra

Andrí Yermak junto a Zelenski. Foto: Reuter

Estados Unidos vende armas a Europa para Ucrania

Por los niños secuestrados

Volodímir Zelenski y su esposa fueron recibidos por Emmanuel Macron y Brigitte Macron. Foto: Bloomberg

Rusia ataca Ucrania diariamente

Zelenski a Irlanda