José Adolfo Macías VillamarA drug fugitive trafficker known as Fito and desired by the authorities in Ecuador and the United States, was recovered more than a year after he escaped from prison to the Andean nation, announced on Wednesday Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa.
Macías, who directed a gang called “Los Choneros” in Ecuador, was captured in the equatorial city of blanket, his hometown, said the officials of Ecuador. In April, he was accused of New York City by accusing thousands of cocaine pounds in the United States.
“We will fall more, we will recover the country. Without truce.” Said noboa In an X publication that announces the arrest of Macías. “We have made our part to continue the extradition of Fito in the United States, we are waiting for their response.”
Interpol had issued a Macias arrest mandate after his Mysterous prison escape by early 2024 From the Guayaquil Regional Prison, where he served a 34 -year sentence for drug trafficking. Ecuadorian authorities have not yet explained how he escaped the notoriously violent prisons in the country. They only learned of his getaway when a military contingent moved him to another prison of maximum security, but did not find him in the cell.
The Ecuadorian army confirmed the recovery of Macias in what seemed to be the basement of a house. A video provided by the army showed the time of arrest, with a uniform officer pointing a gun to the drug derogue -story, which gave its full name. The officers had found him hidden in a small hole under what seemed to be a kitchen counter.
The announcement of his Wednesday arrest comes to the same week as Federico Gómez, alias “Fede”, the leader of another gang called Las Aguilas, was confirmed that he had escaped from an Ecuadorian prison.
Last year, United States lawyer John Durham said in a statement that Macias led Los Choneros and his “Network of Drug and Weapons Disaders and Discation” since the least 2020.
With an extensive criminal record that includes positions of murder and organized crime, Macías has cultivated a state of worship between colleagues in the band and the public in his country of origin.
While behind the grilles in 2023, he published a video directed at “The Ecuadorian Poble” while flanking armed men. He also launched parties in prison, where he had access to everything, from spirits to roosters for parties fighting the cock. He had also been directing Los Choneros since his prison cell, according to authorities.
Macías’s escape triggered widespread, bombing, bombing riots, the murder of a prominent prosecutor and an armed attack on a television network during a live broadcast, “said Ecuador’s embassy and consulate in Ecuador last year.
The Ecuadorian government and drug mafia also declared war on each other, and Noboa ordered “neutralize” the criminal bands later The gunmen stormed and opened fire In the television studio and bandits threatened random executions of civilians and security forces.
It Accusation of seven counts Sealing in Brooklyn Cobra Macías and an unidentified co-accusation with the international distribution count of cocaine, conspiracy and weapons, including the U.S. smuggling firearms.
Los Choneros used people to buy firearms, components and ammunition in the United States and smuggling -in Ecuador, according to the accusation. Cocaine would flow in the United States with the help of Mexican cartels.
“Los Choneros operated a wide network responsible for sending and distributing cocaine amounts of various tons from South America to Central America and Mexico in the United States and other places,” says the accusation.
Last year, the United States classified Los Choneros as one of the most violent bands and stated their connection with powerful Mexican drug cartels which threaten the Ecuador and the surrounding region.
Ecuador authorities have classified the gang as a terrorist organization. Earlier this month, the Ecuadorian government announced that the reward for the capture of Macías would be increased to 1 million dollars.