Ecuador Recaptures Interpol-Wanted Gang Leader Fito After Yearlong Manhunt
Ecuador Recaptures Interpol-Wanted Gang Leader Fito After Yearlong Manhunt

Ecuador Recaptures Interpol-Wanted Gang Leader Fito After Yearlong Manhunt

News summary

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced the recapture of José Adolfo Macías, alias ‘Fito’, the country’s most wanted fugitive and leader of the violent 'Los Choneros' gang, more than a year after his escape from Guayaquil Regional Prison triggered a national security crisis. Macías, wanted in both Ecuador and the US for leading a vast cocaine trafficking and weapons smuggling operation, was found hiding in a concealed basement space beneath a kitchen counter in his hometown of Manta. His January 2024 escape—still shrouded in mystery—led authorities to discover his absence only during a planned transfer to a higher-security facility and resulted in the Ecuadorian government classifying Los Choneros and other gangs as terrorist organizations. US authorities and Interpol had issued arrest warrants, and US prosecutors have indicted Macías for importing thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States and for firearms trafficking, linking his organization to Mexican cartels. The Ecuadorian government has requested Macías' extradition to the US, where he faces a federal indictment in New York. His recapture comes amid ongoing concerns about Ecuador’s security, underscored by the recent escape of another gang leader, Federico Gómez ('Fede') of Las Aguilas.

Story Coverage
Bias Distribution
67% Left
Information Sources
166bc319-c612-4063-955b-1bdc4fec97ffd387b58c-602b-49e7-8f0e-990aad2baa47c4f0a92e-fe88-4e5f-baf6-71bf228bc6ed
Left 67%
Center 33%
Coverage Details
Total News Sources
3
Left
2
Center
1
Right
0
Unrated
0
Last Updated
5 days ago
Bias Distribution
67% Left
Related News
Daily Index

Negative

26Serious

Neutral

Optimistic

Positive

Ask VT AI
Story Coverage

Related Topics

Subscribe

Stay in the know

Get the latest news, exclusive insights, and curated content delivered straight to your inbox.

Present

Gift Subscriptions

The perfect gift for understanding
news from all angles.

Related News
Recommended News