Ecuadorian gang leader Adolfo Macías Villamar, popularly known as "Fito," has been extradited to the United States to confront multiple charges related to drug and weapons trafficking. The extradition follows his capture in June after a dramatic escape from a high-security prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for various crimes.
Expected to appear in a U.S. federal court on Monday, Macías is being represented by lawyer Alexei Schacht, who confirmed that he would plead not guilty to the international charges against him. The leader of the notorious Los Choneros gang, Macías is also suspected of orchestrating the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023.
Los Choneros have been implicated in transforming Ecuador from a peaceful tourist destination into a country grappling with one of the highest murder rates in the region. The nation serves as a significant waypoint for the world’s cocaine supply, with over 70% of the global production funneled through its ports, strategically positioned between Colombia, the leading cocaine producer, and Peru.
Macías was located and recaptured in June inside an underground bunker beneath a posh home in the coastal city of Manta, leading to his transfer to La Roca, a maximum-security prison. Following his extradition, President Daniel Noboa commended the security forces responsible for his capture and expressed his commitment to addressing the country’s escalating crime challenge.
In a public vote, Ecuadoreans approved the extradition of citizens in a referendum promoted by Noboa, who has vowed to intensify efforts in combatting organized crime. Recently, Noboa indicated a desire for international military collaboration, calling on armed forces from the U.S., Europe, and Brazil to join the fight against destructive criminal networks.
