Context:

Ecuadorian authorities successfully recaptured Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as 'Fito', the leader of the notorious Los Choneros gang, in an underground bunker beneath a luxury home in Manta. Fito, suspected of ordering the assassination of a presidential candidate, had escaped from prison earlier in 2024, causing significant unrest and a state of emergency in the country. His capture involved a coordinated 10-hour operation by police and military forces, during which no shots were fired. President Daniel Noboa praised the operation as a testament to his government's strategy against gang violence, which includes laws allowing police to conduct unwarranted searches and declare an 'armed internal conflict'. Following his capture, Fito was transferred to a maximum-security prison and is expected to be extradited to the United States on cocaine smuggling charges.

Dive Deeper:

• Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias 'Fito', was apprehended by Ecuadorian police in an underground bunker beneath a luxury home in Manta, marking the end of a coordinated 10-hour operation by police and military forces. His capture was critical due to his leadership of Los Choneros, a gang significantly contributing to Ecuador's high murder rate.

• Fito was previously imprisoned for a 34-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking, during which he rose to the top of Los Choneros after the former leader's death, orchestrating criminal activities from behind bars. His escape in January 2024 from La Regional prison, with the assistance of guards, led to deadly prison riots and a state of emergency.

• The gang leader is suspected of ordering the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio during the 2023 campaign, an act that intensified his notoriety. Under his leadership, Los Choneros established ties with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, spreading violent cartel tactics within Ecuador.

• Fito's capture was seen as a victory for President Daniel Noboa, who had been elected with a promise to combat gang violence. Noboa's approach included enacting laws granting police greater powers, including conducting searches without warrants, and declaring an 'armed internal conflict' to reclaim control over the country.

• Following his arrest, Fito was transferred to a maximum-security prison in Guayaquil and is set to be extradited to the United States, where he faces charges of cocaine smuggling. His capture is part of a broader strategy to dismantle the influence of drug lords and gangs in Ecuador.