Ecuador's Notorious Drug Lord 'Fito' Extradited to the U.S.

José Adolfo Macías Villamar, widely known as 'Fito', has been extradited from Ecuador to the United States, according to official reports. He is expected to appear before a federal court in the U.S. on Monday.

Macías Villamar was escorted by police and military personnel as he left a high-security prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, for his transfer to the U.S. Tracking data from the flight monitoring service, Flightradar, revealed that his flight landed in New York late on Sunday evening.

The notorious drug lord had previously escaped from prison in early 2024 but was recaptured about a month ago. He faces several charges in the U.S., including drug trafficking, conspiracy, and firearms-related offenses, with the potential for a life sentence if convicted.

Authorities allege that under Macías Villamar's leadership, the Los Choneros gang has collaborated with the infamous Sinaloa cartel from Mexico, controlling significant drug trafficking routes between South America and the U.S. The U.S. Attorney's Office has indicated that Macías Villamar's arraignment will take place on Monday.

Following his escape, violence associated with gang activity surged across Ecuador. In response, President Daniel Noboa declared a nationwide state of emergency, which lasted several months. The violence escalated, with gangs launching attacks, including car bombings, kidnapping police officers, and committing multiple murders.

One particularly shocking incident involved armed assailants storming a television studio in Guayaquil in January, taking journalists and staff hostage during a live broadcast.

Traditionally considered a peaceful and stable nation, Ecuador has recently become a critical hub for international drug trafficking, situated between Colombia and Peru, the two largest cocaine producers in the world. This shift has brought a marked increase in violent crime.

In Ecuador's prisons, violent clashes between rival gangs have become commonplace. Macías Villamar, serving a 34-year sentence since 2011 for organized crime, drug trafficking, and murder, is also suspected of orchestrating the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in 2023, who was known for his anti-corruption stance as a journalist prior to his candidacy.