Infamous Leader of Los Choneros Captured and Agrees to Extradition to the US

Jose Adolfo Macías aka Fito, the last surviving founding member of infamous Ecuadorean gang Los Choneros has been apprehended. He had been on the run for more than a year. He was apprehended on June 25 in Manta, Ecuador. This arrest came after a chaotic prison break that brought the lavished lifestyle he’s lived in…

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Infamous Leader of Los Choneros Captured and Agrees to Extradition to the US

Jose Adolfo Macías aka Fito, the last surviving founding member of infamous Ecuadorean gang Los Choneros has been apprehended. He had been on the run for more than a year. He was apprehended on June 25 in Manta, Ecuador. This arrest came after a chaotic prison break that brought the lavished lifestyle he’s lived in jail to light. The U.S. Justice Department is seeking his extradition on drug and weapons trafficking charges. That said, Macías has now indeed consented to this extradition.

In early January 2024, Macías escaped from prison, sending tremors throughout Ecuador. In return, President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador responded by implementing a state of “internal armed conflict.” The result was the explosion of violence, when authorities in the Ecuadorian government declared Los Choneros and 21 other gangs as terrorist entities. Afterward, reports began to circulate that Macías had received extensive privileges while behind bars. Today, he still enjoys a cell twice the usual size—with varying pretty female guests. This shocking discovery led international observers to call into question the state of affairs inside Ecuador’s prison system.

After a lengthy pursuit, authorities finally cornered Macías in an underground bunker he had dug beneath a mansion in Ecuador’s Manabí province. For Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg, the operation was an all-around success. They began to dig, and confirmed the existence of the bunker, and ultimately the capture of Macías,” he said.

In the wake of his arrest, President Noboa touted the importance of getting Macías extradited to the United States as soon as possible. He reiterated that this step must be taken in order to return democracy to Ecuador. It also addresses the macro issues posed by organized crime.

Macías’s legal team continues to work diligently. They are committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for him as this legal fight continues to develop. Alexei Schacht, part of his defense team, expressed their commitment, saying, “We are working hard to defend his rights and help him and his family.”

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