Ecuador Captures ‘Fito’, Nation’s Most Wanted Gang Leader

Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as “Fito,” the fugitive leader of Ecuador’s notorious Los Choneros gang, has been recaptured after nearly 18 months on the run, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced. Macias escaped from Guayaquil prison in January 2024, where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder. Following his arrest, he will be extradited to the United States, where he faces federal charges for drug trafficking and firearms smuggling.

President Noboa, who had earlier offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Macias’s capture, had mobilized thousands of police and military personnel in the nationwide manhunt. After the successful operation, Noboa praised the security forces, stating on social media platform X: “More will fall, we will reclaim the country. No truce.”

Macias had reportedly escaped just before his scheduled transfer to a maximum-security prison. His escape led to a major national crisis, including riots, bombings, kidnappings, and the assassination of a prominent prosecutor. An armed attack even occurred on a live television broadcast. These events prompted Noboa to declare a 60-day state of emergency across Ecuador. As part of his response, Noboa labeled 22 criminal gangs, including Los Choneros, as terrorist organizations.

In February 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on both Macias and Los Choneros for their involvement in drug trafficking and for inciting widespread violence in Ecuador. These sanctions were part of a coordinated international effort to curb the gang’s growing influence.

Ecuador, once known as one of the most peaceful nations in Latin America, has become increasingly unstable. Its geographic proximity to Peru and Colombia—two of the world’s top cocaine producers—has made the country an ideal transshipment point for narcotics headed to North America and Europe. This strategic location has drawn the interest of powerful international drug cartels and turned Ecuador into a battleground for drug trafficking operations.

Violence in the country has escalated significantly due to intense competition among rival domestic gangs, many of which receive support from international criminal syndicates operating out of Mexico, Albania, and other countries. These alliances have fueled an explosion of criminal activity, including murders, kidnappings, and attacks on public institutions and media outlets.

Macias’s escape and subsequent recapture highlight the fragility of Ecuador’s prison system and broader security infrastructure. His prison break had exposed deep vulnerabilities in the state’s ability to control high-profile criminals and maintain order. The recapture of “Fito” is a significant step in Noboa’s fight against organized crime, but the president has emphasized that the battle is far from over.

Noboa’s firm stance, including declaring zero tolerance and designating gangs as terrorists, indicates a tougher national security policy moving forward. However, long-term stability will likely require not just military responses but also reforms to the judiciary, prison system, and international cooperation to combat transnational crime networks that have taken root in Ecuador.