Adolfo Macias, a notorious Ecuadorean gang leader known as “Fito,” is scheduled to appear in a New York state court on Monday. He is accused of international drug and weapons trafficking charges, and his lawyer has stated that Macias will plead not guilty.
Macias, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, was extradited to the United States on Sunday by the Ecuadorean government. He had been serving a 34-year prison sentence in Guayaquil for drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder before his escape from a maximum-security prison last year. He was recaptured in June.
The flight transporting Macias landed in New York state on Sunday night. The details of the extradition have not been specified, and the US government has not yet issued an official statement.
In April, the US Attorney’s Office filed charges against Macias, accusing him of cocaine distribution, conspiracy, and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. Macias agreed to be extradited to the US to face these charges in a Quito court.
This marks the first time Ecuador has extradited a criminal suspect since a new law was passed last year following a referendum called by President Daniel Noboa. Ecuador, known for its previous stability, has witnessed a surge in violence in recent years as rival gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels fight for control.
Macias has a cult following among fellow gang members and the public. He released a video in 2023 while still imprisoned, where he was flanked by armed men. He also hosted parties in prison with access to liquor and even cockfighting matches.
Los Choneros, Macias’s gang, has connections to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, Colombia’s Gulf Clan (the world’s largest cocaine exporter), and Balkan mafias. His escape from prison sparked widespread violence and a massive military and police operation to recapture him, with “wanted” posters offering a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Macias was captured in June hiding in a concealed bunker beneath floor tiles in a luxury home in the fishing port of Manta, the center of operations for Los Choneros. President Noboa confirmed that Macias would be extradited to the United States “as soon as possible.”
Ecuador has become a significant transit point for cocaine, with over 70 percent of the world’s cocaine passing through its ports. In 2024, the country seized a record 294 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/21/ecuadors-biggest-drug-lord-fito-extradited-to-us-to-plead-not-guilty?traffic_source=rss
