Ecuador’s most notorious drug lord, Interpol-wanted gang leader ‘Fito’ recaptured after year-long manhunt

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced on Wednesday the recapture of José Adolfo Macías, alias “Fito,” the country’s most wanted fugitive and leader of the criminal gang ‘Los Choneros’.Macías was apprehended in his hometown of Manta, in what authorities described as a covert basement hideout beneath a kitchen counter. At the time of his escape, Macías was serving a 34-year sentence for homicide and drug trafficking. His disappearance triggered a violent ripple across Ecuador, pushing the government to declare an internal armed conflict and classify Los Choneros alongside 21 other criminal groups as terrorist organizations.Interpol issued an international arrest warrant shortly after his escape, which baffled authorities. Officials only discovered he was missing when a military unit arrived to transfer him to a higher-security facility, only to find his prison cell empty. The circumstances surrounding his flight remain under investigation.Macías’ capture comes just days after another prison escape made headlines, this time involving Federico Gómez, alias “Fede,” leader of the rival gang Las Aguilas.

The timing has once again spotlighted Ecuador’s deepening security crisis.The US government has been closely watching Macías and Los Choneros. In February 2024, the Treasury Department sanctioned both, citing their violent activities and transnational drug trafficking operations. A seven-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn accuses Macías of smuggling thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States, as well as conspiracy and firearms trafficking.According to the indictment, Los Choneros maintained a vast distribution network, funneling cocaine from South America through Central America and Mexico into the US, with support from powerful Mexican cartels. The gang is also accused of using operatives in the US to illegally purchase firearms and ammunition and smuggle them into Ecuador.US Attorney John Durham previously described Macías as the head of a “network of assassins and traffickers.” Despite being behind bars for much of his reign, Macías maintained influence and even notoriety, releasing videos flanked by armed men, throwing prison parties, and flaunting access to contraband luxuries.Now back in custody, Macías may soon be extradited to the United States. President Noboa confirmed Ecuador is awaiting a response from US officials regarding the request.