Adolfo Macías, also known as "Fito," was extradited to the United States to confront serious drug and arms trafficking charges after being recaptured following a daring prison escape. His extradition follows a nationwide referendum supporting such measures to combat gang violence.
Ecuadorian Drug Kingpin 'Fito' Extradited to the U.S. for Drug Trafficking Charges
Ecuadorian Drug Kingpin 'Fito' Extradited to the U.S. for Drug Trafficking Charges
Ecuador's notorious gang leader Adolfo 'Fito' Macías Villamar faces U.S. federal charges, marking a significant turn in the fight against drug-related crime.
The notorious Ecuadorean drug lord Adolfo "Fito" Macías Villamar has been extradited to the United States, where he is set to face federal charges related to drug and arms trafficking. Macías, who was apprehended in June after having escaped from a high-security facility, is known as the leader of the Los Choneros gang, which has connections to major criminal organizations dealing drugs across borders.
Macías, who had been serving a lengthy 34-year sentence, will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Monday, where he is expected to plead not guilty to the international charges leveled against him, according to statements made by his lawyer, Alexei Schacht.
The Los Choneros gang has been implicated in the dramatic rise of violence within Ecuador, a country that has shifted from a favored tourist destination to one grappling with alarming homicide rates—now among the highest in the region. Reports indicate that more than 70% of the global cocaine supply traverses Ecuador's ports, strategically positioned between Colombia and Peru, the world’s leading cocaine producers.
After months of evasion, Fito was tracked down to a clandestine bunker beneath a luxury residence in the coastal city of Manta. Following his recapture, he was returned to La Roca, a maximum-security prison. Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has applauded law enforcement for the successful operation, pledging that Macías would be extradited under the country’s revised criminal policies.
Ecuadorians had recently voted in a referendum to allow the extradition of citizens like Macías, a decision backed by Noboa to address the surge in organized crime. Earlier this year, Noboa emphasized his call for international military assistance, seeking support from U.S., European, and Brazilian forces to enhance his government’s campaign against rampant criminal activity and drug-related issues in the country.
