- Jose “Fito” Macías agrees to U.S. extradition
- He was captured in luxury bunker after year in hiding
- Fito led Ecuador’s feared gang, Los Choneros
Jose Adolfo Macías, known by his alias “Fito,” one of Ecuador’s most feared drug kingpins, is being extradited to the United States. On Friday, Macías formally accepted the extradition during a hearing at Ecuador’s National Court of Justice. He is wanted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges of drug and weapons trafficking.
Macías, the leader of the notorious criminal group Los Choneros, agreed to the extradition on the advice of his Ecuadorian lawyer, according to his U.S. attorney, Alexei Schacht.
“We’re working hard to protect his rights and assist him and his family,” Schacht told CNN. “Mr. Macías and his legal team are committed to securing the best possible outcome.”
Macías made global headlines in January 2024 when he escaped from prison, triggering a wave of violence across Ecuador. His breakout coincided with an armed attack on a live TV broadcast, where gunmen took hostages on air.
President Daniel Noboa, newly in office at the time, declared a state of “internal armed conflict” and labeled Los Choneros and 21 other gangs as terrorist organizations.
As the only surviving founder of Los Choneros, Macías gained a reputation as a money-laundering mastermind during his years behind bars. His prison escape revealed the luxurious life he led while incarcerated—celebrating birthdays with fireworks, expanding his prison cell, and receiving visits from women, according to local reports.
After more than a year on the run, Macías was captured last month in a lavish underground bunker beneath a villa in Manabí province. The mansion featured marble interiors, a private gym, and a game room. Surveillance detected a suspicious field near the property, prompting excavation.
“Fito panicked when we started digging,” said Interior Minister John Reimberg. “He knew the roof of his bunker might collapse, so he opened the hatch and surrendered to the military.”
President Noboa soon confirmed the government’s intent to extradite Macías to the United States to face justice.
