Ecuadorian authorities have arrested José Adolfo Macías Villal, alias “Fito,” head of the warlike faction. This comes on the heels of his dramatic prison break from a Guayaquil penitentiary earlier this year. President Daniel Noboa made the announcement. He underscored the importance of this new development to the nation’s fight against organized crime and violence.
Fito, previously caught and serving a 34 year sentence for homicide and narcotics trafficking, escaped the penitentiary in January 2024. His escape set off a wave of violence across Ecuador, as rival gangs battled for control over the lucrative drug trade in the country. The wave of protests forced President Noboa to announce a state of internal armed conflict. His goal is to restore law and order in a country overwhelmed with drugs, gangs, and other organized crime.
In February 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Fito due to his involvement in drug trafficking and violent activities that extend beyond Ecuador’s borders. With these sanctions, the Biden administration has further signaled the global ramifications of his illicit enterprise. These facts illustrate how deeply his actions have undermined stability in the region.
President Noboa’s administration acted quickly to quell the escalation in violence. On March 28, 2022, they declared Los Choneros, Fito’s gang, and 21 other criminal organizations as terrorist groups. This new designation gives the federal government more ability to go after these groups with a heavier hand. Their mission is to take down operations and to return calm.
Ecuador is doing everything it can to extradite Fito to the United States. As police describe, this joint effort is a continuation of their war against organized crime. Today American officials are reportedly reconsidering the case. Whether they will pursue him before a U.S. court for his multi-billion dollar international drug trafficking enterprise is now up to them.
Fito’s capture is seen as a crucial step in Ecuador’s battle against drug-related violence and organized crime. Authorities are hopeful that this significant arrest will lead to greater stability within the country and deter further violent outbreaks.
