Fugitive Drug Lord "Fito" Recaptured in Ecuador After Year on the Run

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced the recapture of José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as Fito, a fugitive drug trafficker. Macías had been on the run for over a year after escaping from prison. He is wanted by authorities in both Ecuador and the United States.

Macías, the leader of the "Los Choneros" gang, was apprehended in Manta, Ecuador, his hometown. He faces charges in New York City for importing thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. President Noboa stated that the government would work to extradite Macías to the United States.

Interpol had issued an arrest warrant for Macías following his escape from the Guayaquil Regional Prison in early 2024. He was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking. Authorities have not yet explained how he escaped from the prison.

The Ecuadorian army confirmed the recapture, which took place in what appeared to be the basement of a house. A video released by the army showed the arrest, with officers finding Macías hiding in a small hole beneath a kitchen counter.

The announcement of Macías' arrest came in the same week that another gang leader, Federico Gómez, also known as "Fede," escaped from an Ecuadorian prison.

Macías has a long criminal history, including charges of murder and organized crime. He has gained a cult status among gang members and the public in Ecuador. While in prison in 2023, he released a video and held parties. Authorities allege he continued to run Los Choneros from his jail cell.

Macías' escape led to widespread violence, including riots, bombings, kidnappings, and an attack on a TV network. The Ecuadorian government and drug mafias declared war on each other, and Noboa ordered the neutralization of criminal gangs.

The U.S. indictment charges Macías with international cocaine distribution, conspiracy, and weapons counts, including smuggling firearms from the United States. Los Choneros allegedly used people to buy firearms and smuggle them into Ecuador, with cocaine flowing into the United States with the help of Mexican cartels.

The U.S. classified Los Choneros as one of the most violent gangs and affirmed its connection to powerful Mexican drug cartels. The Ecuadorian government has classified the gang as a terrorist organization and increased the reward for Macías' capture.