July 21 (UPI) — Infamous Ecuadorian gang chief Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar has been extradited to the US, the place he’s anticipated to make his first courtroom look on Monday.
President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador confirmed late Sunday that Macias, chief of the Los Choneros gang and who’s also called Fito, has arrived in the US.
“Goodbye perpetually, Fito,” Noboa mentioned in a press release to social media. “Fito is now within the USA.”
The U.S. authorities has but to verify Macias’ extradition.
Hasta nunca, Fito.
Fito ya está en EEUU. Esto es gracias a ustedes, ecuatorianos, que dijeron sí a la consulta well-liked. Espero con gusto las teorías creativas que dirán que no.
Interceptamos también 14 toneladas de droga, eso es 560 millones de dólares menos para el… pic.twitter.com/BQ4hYs75nT— Daniel Noboa Azin (@DanielNoboaOk) July 21, 2025
Macias was recaptured in late June amid a controversial crackdown on gang violence within the nation, performed by Noboa utilizing not too long ago acquired powers granted to him by the Nationwide Meeting to fight inner armed battle.
Macias was serving a 34-year sentence for a slew of crimes, together with homicide, when he escaped from Guayaquil’s regional jail in January, as gang violence was erupting in prisons throughout the nation.
In response to the violence, Noboa declared the nation was within the midst of an “inner armed battle” and launched a nationwide legislation enforcement effort focusing on drug cartels and gangs after declaring them terrorists.
Macias was then sanctioned by the U.S. State Division in February and charged in a seven-count indictment with drug trafficking-related offenses in Brooklyn, N.Y., in April.
If convicted in the US, he faces as much as life in jail.
Noboa described Macias’ extradition as validation of his crackdown that has obtained worldwide criticism from human rights organizations, together with Human Rights Watch, over issues that the brand new powers pose to the rights of Ecuadorians.
“That is because of you, Ecuadorians, who mentioned sure to the referendum. I eagerly await the inventive theories that may declare in any other case,” he mentioned.
