Ecuador Extradites Notorious Drug Lord ‘Fito’ to U.S.
QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuadorian authorities have extradited José Adolfo “Fito” Macías Villamar, the infamous leader of Los Choneros, to the United States, marking a historic moment in the country’s fight against transnational organized crime.
Macías, 45, had been a fugitive since escaping from a high-security prison in Guayaquil last year. He was recaptured in late June on Ecuador’s central coast after nearly 18 months on the run. His extradition, the first of its kind from Ecuador to the U.S., was executed under tight security, involving both the National Police and Armed Forces.
The U.S. Justice Department had issued an indictment in April 2025, charging Macías with trafficking thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States in collaboration with Mexican cartels. He is scheduled to appear before a Brooklyn federal court on Monday, where his attorney confirmed he will plead not guilty.
A Ruthless Gang Leader
Since taking control of Los Choneros in 2020, Macías built a reputation for violence, bribery, and an ability to operate both inside and outside prison walls. Under his leadership, the gang became one of Ecuador’s most feared criminal groups, known for employing hitmen, military-grade weapons, and intimidation tactics.
Prosecutors allege that Macías’s organization smuggled firearms and ammunition from the United States into Ecuador while shipping cocaine north, using routes controlled in part through alliances with Mexican drug cartels.
The indictment further claims the gang “violently targeted law enforcement, politicians, lawyers, and civilians” who interfered with their operations.
Escape, Capture, and Cult Status
Macías had been serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, murder, and organized crime when he escaped from prison. During his time as a fugitive, he remained a symbol of power in Ecuador’s underworld.
While behind bars, Macías maintained a lavish prison lifestyle — complete with access to alcohol, parties, and cockfighting matches. In one 2023 video released from prison, he appeared flanked by armed men, addressing the “Ecuadorian people” in a show of defiance.
His escape drew widespread attention and criticism of Ecuador’s prison system. Following his recapture, officials transferred him to La Roca, a maximum-security detention center, before arranging his extradition.
International Implications
The United States had to issue formal guarantees to Ecuador that Macías’s rights would be respected once extradited. This move reflects growing international cooperation in the battle against transnational narco-trafficking networks that exploit legal loopholes and weak state institutions.
Macías is now expected to remain in U.S. custody as he awaits trial. His defense lawyer, Alexei Schacht, confirmed to the Associated Press that a U.S. prison location will soon be determined.
A First for Ecuador
While two other Ecuadorian drug traffickers were previously extradited to the U.S., those cases involved arrests in Colombia. Macías is the first to be extradited directly from Ecuador, a move seen as a strong signal of Quito’s commitment to regional drug enforcement efforts.
As the region continues to grapple with increasing cartel influence, Fito’s capture and extradition may mark a turning point—or a temporary victory—in the ongoing war against organized crime.
