Ecuador Sends Notorious Drug Gang Leader to the U.S.: What This Means for Crime and Safety

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — On Sunday, Ecuador extradited José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito,” to the United States. He led a notorious gang that used violence, bribes, and military weapons to operate. Fito had escaped from prison last year but was recaptured in June.

In April, a U.S. Attorney charged him in New York for importing large quantities of cocaine. According to Ecuador’s prison authority, SNAI, he was transferred under police and military escort for the extradition process. A photo released shows him in a vest and helmet, flanked by guards.

Fito is set to appear in Brooklyn’s federal court, where his lawyer, Alexei Schacht, stated he would plead not guilty. His next prison location is still to be decided.

The extradition came after the U.S. assured Ecuador that Fito’s rights would be protected. Since 2020, he has led “Los Choneros,” a gang that emerged in the 1990s. They are known for trafficking cocaine, working closely with Mexican cartels. Together, they control critical trafficking routes and have violently targeted anyone who opposes them.

Fito had been serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder when he escaped. His return was marked by his growing infamy in Ecuador. While imprisoned, he gained a sort of celebrity status, even releasing a video for the “Ecuadorian people” surrounded by armed followers. Reports claim he held lavish parties and had access to luxuries like liquor and cockfighting.

This extradition is notable as Fito is the first Ecuadorian sent to the U.S. from Ecuador. Previously, only drug traffickers arrested in Colombia had faced similar actions. Fito’s case highlights rising concerns over drug trafficking and organized crime in Ecuador, where violence has surged in recent years.

Recent statistics show a troubling increase in homicides linked to drug trafficking, rising by over 300% since 2020. Experts fear without stronger international cooperation, the struggle against these powerful gangs will grow increasingly difficult.

Fito’s saga serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Ecuador and the region. With drug-related violence on the rise, the focus now shifts to how authorities in both Ecuador and the U.S. will dismantle these criminal networks moving forward.

For more on drug trafficking and its impacts, visit [NIDA](https://www.drugabuse.gov/).

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Ecuador, Jos Adolfo Macas Villamar, Brooklyn, Alexei Schacht, Extradition, Crime, General news, Prisons, Indictments, Drug cartels, Latin America, South America, Bribery, Drug crimes, Courts, World news, Organized crime