Summary
Ecuadorian drug lord Adolfo Macias, known as "Fito," will be extradited to the United States to face charges of cocaine distribution and weapons smuggling. Macias, leader of the "Los Choneros" gang, was recaptured after escaping from prison 18 months ago and agrees to extradition during a court hearing.
Key Facts
- Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," is a drug lord from Ecuador linked to cocaine and weapons smuggling.
- Macias escaped from a maximum-security prison 18 months ago, sparking violence from his gang.
- He was recaptured last month in a bunker under a house in Manta, Ecuador.
- Macias has accepted extradition to the United States, becoming the first Ecuadorian extradited under a new law.
- Macias led the "Los Choneros" gang, which has connections to other major cartels in Mexico and Colombia.
- He controlled operations from prison, where authorities discovered weapons and cash.
- Macias was serving a 34-year sentence for organized crime, drug trafficking, and murder.
- In recent years, Ecuador has become a key route for cocaine, with a record 294 tonnes seized in 2024.
