Ecuador Recaptures Drug Lord José Adolfo Macías 'Fito', Los Choneros Leader, in Manta Bunker After January 2024 Escape; Extradition to U.S. Initiated

José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as "Fito," the leader of the criminal gang Los Choneros and Ecuador's most wanted drug trafficker, was recaptured on June 25, 2025, after nearly 18 months on the run following his escape from prison in January 2024. The arrest took place in Manta, Ecuador, where he was found hiding in a bunker beneath a luxurious three-story house equipped with a pool and gym. Fito had been indicted in the United States on seven charges related to drug trafficking and murder, and Ecuadorian authorities have initiated extradition proceedings to send him to the U.S. The capture was the result of a joint operation by Ecuador's police and army, involving a 10-hour armed effort and the closure of 15 city blocks.

Authorities tracked Fito through surveillance of his bodyguards and the use of special technology. His escape in 2024 had triggered a wave of violence and exposed vulnerabilities in Ecuador's prison and security systems. The Ecuadorian government, led by President Daniel Noboa, views the recapture as a key victory in its ongoing campaign against organized crime, although officials have raised alerts about possible retaliatory violence from criminal groups. The U.S. government has congratulated Ecuador on the arrest. Fito, linked to the Sinaloa cartel, was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, homicide, and other crimes before his escape. Following his recapture, four of his bodyguards were imprisoned. The operation and subsequent arrest have drawn significant attention domestically and internationally, highlighting the challenges Ecuador faces in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.