Summary
Adolfo Macias Villamar, an Ecuadorean gang leader also known as "Fito," is set to appear in a US federal court to plead not guilty to charges of drug and weapons trafficking. He was extradited to the US by Ecuador after being recaptured following an escape from prison. Macias is accused of crimes related to drug trafficking and has ties to major international drug cartels.
Key Facts
- Adolfo Macias Villamar, also known as "Fito," is a leader of the Los Choneros gang in Ecuador.
- He was serving a 34-year sentence for crimes like drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder.
- Macias escaped from a maximum-security prison in 2024 but was later recaptured.
- Ecuador extradited him to the US, where he faces charges of cocaine distribution and weapons smuggling.
- Macias will plead not guilty in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York.
- He is the first Ecuadorean extradited under a new law aimed at fighting criminal gangs.
- Los Choneros gang has connections with international drug cartels, including Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and Colombia's Gulf Clan.
- Ecuador has seen increased drug-related violence and is a significant transit point for cocaine.
