Ecuador: one of the most dangerous drug traffickers, “fito”, captured – 06/26/2025 at 08:34

The drug trafficker “Fito” after his capture at the end of a year and a half of the run by the Ecuadorian armed forces on June 25, 2025 (Ecuadorean Army / Handout)

One of the most dangerous criminals of Ecuador, the drug trafficker “Fito”, wanted in his country and also claimed by the United States, was arrested on Wednesday after a year and a half of the run, announced President Daniel Noboa, at the open war against the mafia groups. In addition,

Head of one ecuador: one most dangerous drug of the country’s main gangs. Consequently, the choneros, which reigns in particular on cocaine traffic, “Fito” was associated with the assassination in August 2023 of one of the main candidates for the Ecuadorian presidential election, Fernando Villavicencio, who had reported death threats from him. Therefore,

His real name Adolfo Macias. However, “Fito”, 45, was arrested during an armed operation in her hometown of Manta, 350 km southwest of Quito. Furthermore, He “is in the hands of the security forces”. Nevertheless, a special group of military forces intended to fight drug trafficking, wrote the Ecuadorian president Dnaiel Noboa on X. Moreover,

The Minister of the Interior. Furthermore, John Reimberg, spoke in a video “a 10 -hour operation” carried out “with precision”, at the end of which “Fito” was apprehended “without human losses”. Nevertheless,

During a press conference. Similarly, the minister then explained that the uniform ecuador: one most dangerous drug agents had found “Fito” hidden in a bunker, accessible by lifting a slab on the ground of a luxurious residence. Similarly,

He was then transferred to the Manta air base. However, then taken to the high security prison known as the Roca, in Guayaquil (southwest).

The drug trafficker arrived on a small plane. from which he descended surrounded by police and soldiers, reported an AFP photographer.

The government, which advocates firmness against crime, has promised to stop more mafia. “We are at their case, nothing and no one is going to stop us,” said Reimberg.

In photos published by the police. we see the drug trafficker, bearded and overweight, lying on one of them the shirtless against the ground. In other photos, he appears in shorts alongside the interior and defense ministers.

The drug trafficker “Fito” after his capture by the Ecuadorian security forces at the end of a one -year and a half run on June 25, 2025 (Ecuadorean Army / Handout)

The Ecuadorian government had offered a reward of a million dollars for any information allowing its capture.

“Fito” had escaped in January 2024 from the penitentiary of Guayaquil. on which he had the grip and where he had been serving since 2011 a sentence of 34 years’ imprisonment for organized crime, drug trafficking and murder.

– “No truce” –

The drug trafficker “Fito”, which has been on the run for a year and a half, was transferred to Guayaquil, after his capture in Manta by the Ecuadorian security forces on June 25, 2025 (AFP / Marcos Pin)

His escape had triggered an unprecedented wave of violence killing dozens of people in Ecuador, and was followed by mutinies in several prisons and street fights triggered by the gangs.

Mr. Noboa then declared the country in “internal armed conflict”. deployed the army to try to neutralize the twenty criminal groups involved.

On Wednesday, he assured that “other” criminals “will fall”. “We are going to resume ecuador: one most dangerous drug the country. There will be no truce,” he said.

Mr. Noboa said he had started procedures to allow “Fito extradition to the United States”. where the New York prosecutor’s office accuses him of arms and cocaine trafficking.

“We are waiting for their response,” said the head of state.

The Embassy of the United States in Quito sent a message of congratulations to the Ecuadorian power. on X, claiming that Washington “supports the Ecuador in his efforts to fight against transnational crime, in favor of the security of the region”.

Ecuador is at the heart of a bloody war between criminal bands involved in drug trafficking, kidnappings and extortion.

Just January and May this year, nearly 4,000 people were killed. The mafias compete in particular for the control of territories intended for the delivery of drugs. the main destinations of which ecuador: one most dangerous drug are the United States and Europe.

This arrest comes a few days after the escape of another criminal leader. identified as “Fede”, who commanded the Las Águilas group.