Ecuador’s most wanted criminal, “Fito,” was found hiding in a small hole beneath a kitchen counter, ending his 18-month reign of terror that sparked nationwide violence and exposed deep corruption in the country’s prison system.
Key Takeaways
- José Adolfo Macías “Fito,” leader of Ecuador’s Los Choneros gang, has been recaptured after escaping prison in January 2024 while serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder.
- President Daniel Noboa announced Fito will be extradited to the US on drug trafficking and weapons smuggling charges following his capture in Manta, Ecuador.
- Fito’s escape triggered nationwide violence, including riots, bombings, and attacks on media, prompting a 60-day state of emergency and the designation of 22 gangs as “terrorist groups.”
- The criminal mastermind operated a vast drug network shipping multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America to the US with help from Mexican cartels, earning him a $1 million bounty.
- Despite being incarcerated, Fito maintained a luxurious prison lifestyle complete with parties and special privileges, highlighting systemic corruption in Ecuador’s correctional facilities.
Notorious Gang Leader Captured in Basement Hideout
Ecuadorian authorities have successfully recaptured José Adolfo Macías, known as “Fito,” the country’s most wanted criminal and leader of the feared Los Choneros gang. The drug kingpin was discovered hiding in a cramped space beneath a kitchen counter in a house basement in Manta, Ecuador. His January 2024 prison escape had unleashed unprecedented violence across the nation, exposing critical vulnerabilities in Ecuador’s prison system and highlighting the corrupting influence of transnational drug trafficking organizations operating throughout the region.
“Jose Adolfo Macias, alias ‘Fito’, is due to be extradited to the US on drug trafficking and weapons smuggling charges,” said President Daniel Noboa.
A Nation Terrorized by Gang Violence
Fito’s escape last year triggered a devastating wave of violence that terrorized Ecuador’s citizens. The United States government described how his breakout “triggered widespread riots, bombings, kidnappings, the assassination of a prominent prosecutor, and an armed attack on a TV network during a live broadcast”. The severity of the situation forced President Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency and take the extraordinary step of designating 22 gangs, including Los Choneros, as terrorist organizations. This classification gave authorities expanded powers to combat what had become an existential threat to Ecuador’s stability.
“My recognition to our police and military who participated in this operation. More will fall, and we will reclaim the country. No truce,” Noboa declared following the capture.
The 34-year-old gang leader was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder when he managed to escape from the Guayaquil prison. His escape coincided suspiciously with plans to transfer him to a maximum-security facility, raising serious questions about corruption within the prison system. While incarcerated, Fito brazenly flaunted his influence, throwing parties and enjoying luxuries inaccessible to ordinary prisoners. His capture represents a significant victory in Ecuador’s ongoing struggle against organized crime.
International Drug Trafficking Empire
The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned Macías and Los Choneros in February 2024, recognizing the transnational threat posed by his criminal enterprise. Ecuador’s strategic location between major cocaine-producing countries like Colombia and Peru has made it a critical transit point for international drug trafficking, with local gangs forging alliances with powerful Mexican cartels. Under Fito’s leadership, Los Choneros established a sophisticated operation moving massive quantities of narcotics northward.
“Los Choneros operated a vast network responsible for the shipment and distribution of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America through Central America and Mexico to the United States and elsewhere,” stated the federal indictment against Macías.
U.S. Attorney John Durham described Los Choneros as a “network of assassins and drug and weapon traffickers”. The charges against Fito include international cocaine distribution, conspiracy, and weapons smuggling from the United States to Ecuador. This comprehensive criminal operation has contributed to Ecuador’s escalating homicide rate, which has more than doubled in recent years as violent turf wars erupted between rival gangs competing for control of lucrative drug routes.
Justice and Future Security Challenges
The Ecuadorian government had recently increased the reward for information leading to Fito’s capture to $1 million, demonstrating the high priority placed on bringing him to justice. His recapture represents a significant blow to Los Choneros’ operations, though the organization remains active. Ironically, news of Fito’s arrest coincided with reports that another gang leader, Federico Gómez, alias “Fede,” had escaped from an Ecuadorian prison, highlighting the continuing challenges facing the country’s correctional system.
“Ecuador’s most-wanted fugitive and the alleged leader of the Los Choneros criminal group was recaptured after escaping from prison more than a year ago,” Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said on June 25.
With Fito now heading for extradition to the United States, Ecuadorian authorities face the daunting task of dismantling the criminal networks he helped establish while addressing the systemic corruption that enabled his escape and previous luxurious prison lifestyle. President Noboa’s administration has demonstrated a firm commitment to tackling organized crime, but restoring security and public confidence will require sustained effort and comprehensive reform of the country’s law enforcement and corrections institutions.
