Latest news with #QUITO
Al Arabiya
2 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Ecuador Extradites Leader of Violent Ecuadorian Drug Gang to the United States
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) – Ecuador on Sunday extradited to the United States the leader of a violent Ecuadorian gang who relied on hitmen, bribes, and military weapons to do business. José Adolfo Macías Villamar, whose nickname is Fito, escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and was recaptured late June. In April, a US Attorney indicted him in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. Macías was removed from the La Roca Detention Center under the custody of the National Police and Armed Forces for the appropriate proceedings in the context of an extradition process, Ecuador's government agency responsible for overseeing prisons, SNAI, said in a message sent to journalists. Details of the handover were not specified. A photograph released by SNAI showed Macías wearing a T-shirt, shorts, a bulletproof vest, and helmet. Several police officers were guarding him at an undisclosed location. The extradition decision came after the United States sent a document to Ecuador offering guarantees for the respect of the rights of the 45-year-old criminal leader. Since 2020, Macías has led Los Choneros, a criminal organization that emerged in the 1990s. The gang employed people to buy firearms and ammunition in the United States and smuggle them into Ecuador, according to April's indictment. Cocaine would flow into the United States with the help of Mexican cartels. Together, the groups controlled key cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador, violently targeting law enforcement, politicians, lawyers, and civilians who stood in the way. Macías escaped from a Guayaquil prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder. He was recaptured a year and a half later on the country's central coast. Macías has cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public in his home country. While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to the Ecuadorian people while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Macías is the first Ecuadorian to be extradited to the US from Ecuador, prison authorities said. Two other Ecuadorian drug traffickers have previously been handed over to the United States, but from Colombia where they were arrested.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Ecuador extradites leader of violent drug gang to the United States
This wanted poster posted on X by Ecuador's Ministry of Interior, Jan. 9, 2024, shows Adolfo Macías, alias Fito, the leader of Los Choneros gang. (Ecuador's Ministry of Interior via AP, File) QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador on Sunday extradited to the United States the leader of a violent Ecuadorian gang who relied on hitmen, bribes and military weapons to do business. José Adolfo Macías Villamar, whose nickname is 'Fito,' escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and was recaptured late June. In April, a U.S. Attorney indicted him in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. Macías 'was removed from the La Roca Detention Center under the custody of the National Police and Armed Forces for the appropriate proceedings in the context of an extradition process,' Ecuador's government agency responsible for overseeing prisons, SNAI, said in a message sent to journalists. Details of the handover were not specified. A photograph released by SNAI showed Macías wearing a T-shirt, shorts, a bulletproof vest and helmet. Several police officers were guarding him at an undisclosed location. The extradition decision came after the United States sent a document to Ecuador offering guarantees for the respect of the rights of the 45-year-old criminal leader. Since 2020, Macías has led 'Los Choneros,' a criminal organization that emerged in the 1990s. The gang employed people to buy firearms and ammunition in the United States and smuggle them into Ecuador, according to April's indictment. Cocaine would flow into the United States with the help of Mexican cartels. Together, the groups controlled key cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador, violently targeting law enforcement, politicians, lawyers and civilians who stood in the way. Macías escaped from a Guayaquil prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder. He was recaptured a year and a half later on the country's central coast. Macías has cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public in his home country. While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to 'the Ecuadorian people' while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Macías is the first Ecuadorian to be extradited to the U.S. from Ecuador, prison authorities said. Two other Ecuadorian drug traffickers have previously been handed over to the United States but from Colombia, where they were arrested. The Associated Press
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
Ecuador extradites leader of violent Ecuadorian drug gang to the United States
QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador on Sunday extradited to the United States the leader of a violent Ecuadorian gang who relied on hitmen, bribes and military weapons to do business. José Adolfo Macías Villamar , whose nickname is 'Fito,' escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and was recaptured late June. In April, a U.S. Attorney indicted him in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Ecuador extradites leader of violent Ecuadorian drug gang to the United States
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador on Sunday extradited to the United States the leader of a violent Ecuadorian gang who relied on hitmen, bribes and military weapons to do business. José Adolfo Macías Villamar, whose nickname is 'Fito,' escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and was recaptured late June. In April, a U.S. Attorney indicted him in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. Macías 'was removed from the La Roca Detention Center under the custody of the National Police and Armed Forces for the appropriate proceedings in the context of an extradition process,' Ecuador's government agency responsible for overseeing prisons, SNAI, said in a message sent to journalists. Details of the handover were not specified. A photograph released by SNAI showed Macías wearing a T-shirt, shorts, a bulletproof vest and helmet. Several police officers were guarding him at an undisclosed location. The extradition decision came after the United States sent a document to Ecuador offering guarantees for the respect of the rights of the 45-year-old criminal leader. Since 2020, Macías has led 'Los Choneros,' a criminal organization that emerged in the 1990s. The gang employed people to buy firearms and ammunition in the United States and smuggle them into Ecuador, according to April's indictment. Cocaine would flow into the United States with the help of Mexican cartels. Together, the groups controlled key cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador, violently targeting law enforcement, politicians, lawyers and civilians who stood in the way. Macías escaped from a Guayaquil prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime, and murder. He was recaptured a year and a half later on the country's central coast. Macías has cultivated a cult status among fellow gang members and the public in his home country. While behind bars in 2023, he released a video addressed to 'the Ecuadorian people' while flanked by armed men. He also threw parties in prison, where he had access to everything from liquor to roosters for cockfighting matches. Macías is the first Ecuadorian to be extradited to the U.S. from Ecuador, prison authorities said. Two other Ecuadorian drug traffickers have previously been handed over to the United States but from Colombia, where they were arrested.
Associated Press
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Ecuador offers $100,000 reward for information on lawmaker accused of raping a minor
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's government on Sunday offered a $100,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of a lawmaker whom authorities accused of raping a minor. The case against Santiago Díaz Asque became public when he was expelled from an opposition party earlier this week. Interior Minister Jhon Reimberg in a post on X said the reward is for 'true and verifiable' information on Díaz's location. Authorities on Wednesday raided three properties linked to the case, but prosecutor's have declined to provide details of the investigation. Díaz requested unpaid leave from the National Assembly after he was kicked out of the Citizen Revolution party, but it was denied. He also published a letter in which he rejected the accusation and characterized it as at attempt to 'silence my incorruptible and critical voice.' If convicted, Díaz could face up to 22 years in prison under current law. President Daniel Noboa on Friday said he had sent lawmakers a proposed constitutional reform that would allow the chemical castration of people convicted of rape. He said the National Assembly would now get to show 'who truly stands with the victims and who is willing to protect the abusers.'
