In brief
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa confirms the arrest of the drug trafficker known as "Fito," who is set to be extradited to the U.S. to face charges for drug trafficking and weapon smuggling, following his prison breakout that caused a state of emergency and unrest.
Ecuadorian security forces successfully captured José Adolfo Macías, infamously known as “Fito,” whose escape from prison in January 2024 ignited a surge of violence throughout the country. President Daniel Noboa announced on social media that the government is now proceeding with the extradition of Macías to the United States, where he faces serious accusations related to drug trafficking and weapons smuggling.Macías, 45, is the leader of Los Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most notorious criminal organizations. He was indicted in the Eastern District of New York earlier this year on several charges, including major cocaine distribution offenses. His prison break occurred during a transfer attempt intended to move him to a maximum-security facility. This escape resulted in a 60-day state of emergency declaration by the government, which prompted widespread riots in prisons, gang warfare, and numerous kidnappings and bomb attacks across Ecuador.In a coordinated operation involving the police and the military, authorities located Macías hiding in an underground bunker in Manta, a coastal city approximately 120 miles from Guayaquil. Interior Minister John Reimberg shared video footage of the arrest, showing Macías being apprehended and escorted into an armed military vehicle before being flown back to Guayaquil.Macías’s escape came shortly after President Noboa's election where he pledged to combat gang violence and restore order to the country: "More will fall, we will reclaim the country. No truce," he reiterated after the arrest. The U.S. Embassy in Quito lauded the successful operation, reinforcing the bilateral fight against drug trafficking and organized crime.
