Adolfo "Fito" Macías, the notorious leader of the Los Choneros gang, has been extradited to the U.S. to face serious drug and arms trafficking charges, marking a significant move in Ecuador's battle against rising crime and drug violence.
Escalating Drug Trafficking: Ecuador's 'Fito' Extradited to the US
Escalating Drug Trafficking: Ecuador's 'Fito' Extradited to the US
Ecuadorean drug lord Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as "Fito," has been extradited to face international trafficking charges in the United States.
Ecuadorean drug lord Adolfo Macías Villamar, widely known as "Fito," has been extradited to the United States to confront serious allegations of drug and arms trafficking. Macías, who was recaptured in June following his escape from a high-security prison where he was serving a lengthy 34-year sentence for several offenses, is anticipated to enter a plea of not guilty at a federal court in Brooklyn.
The Los Choneros gang, which Macías leads, is widely connected to various powerful criminal organizations operating in nations such as Mexico and the Balkans. He is also suspected of orchestrating the assassination of 2023 presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio. Due to its strategic location between Colombia and Peru—two of the world's largest cocaine producers—Ecuador has seen a drastic transformation from a tourist haven to a hotspot of violence, registering one of the highest murder rates in the region.
In June, law enforcement authorities located Macías in an underground bunker beneath a luxurious home in Manta. Following his recapture, he was housed in La Roca, a maximum-security prison. President Daniel Noboa expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies for their role in apprehending him and confirmed plans for his extradition to the United States.
Earlier on Sunday, the prison authority in Ecuador confirmed that Macías had been handed over to U.S. officials. “Mr. Macías and I will appear tomorrow before the Brooklyn federal court... where he will plead not guilty,” stated his lawyer, Alexei Schacht. Macías is expected to be held in an undisclosed U.S. prison following the arraignment.
This extradition follows a referendum in which Ecuadoreans voted to permit the extradition of citizens, a move driven by President Noboa's commitment to combat escalating crime. In March, he discussed with BBC his desire for assistance from U.S., Brazilian, and European military forces to join Ecuador's "war" against organized crime. As the spotlight shines on the cocaine trade, which sees over 70% of the global supply transit through Ecuadorian ports, the nation is grappling with systemic violence fueled by powerful gangs.
