They arrest "Fito", gang leader and most wanted criminal in Ecuador

Ecuador.- Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito”, leader of the criminal gang Los Choneros and considered one of the most dangerous and wanted men in Ecuador, was captured, as announced this Wednesday by President Daniel Noboa.

"Fito" had been a fugitive since January 2024, when his escape from the Regional Prison of Guayaquil was confirmed, where he was serving a 34-year sentence for crimes such as homicide and drug trafficking. To date, the authorities have not been able to establish exactly when or how his escape occurred.

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His escape marked a turning point in the country's security crisis. Just days after his escape was known, Ecuador was shaken by an unprecedented wave of violence, which led President Noboa to declare an internal armed conflict. The Government classified Los Choneros and 21 other criminal organizations as terrorist groups, authorizing the use of military force to combat them. In February 2024, concern about the power of these gangs crossed borders. The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Macías and his organization through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The measures included the freezing of assets and the prohibition for U.S. citizens to conduct transactions with individuals or entities linked to Los Choneros. According to the U.S. government, the criminal group led by "Fito" operates with logistical and financial support from the Mexican cartels of Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación, expanding its influence throughout the region and fueling violence and instability in Ecuador. Although President Noboa did not reveal specific details about the capture, additional information about the operation, the place of arrest, and the conditions in which the criminal leader was recaptured is expected to be provided in the coming hours.