Ecuador’s most sought-after criminal, Adolfo Macías Villamar, known notoriously as “Fito,” has been apprehended after a 17-month manhunt. Fito, the powerful leader of the Los Choneros criminal organization, is widely blamed for the dramatic surge in violence and murder rates that has transformed Ecuador from a relatively peaceful tourist haven into one of the region’s most dangerous countries.
Authorities located and captured the 45-year-old fugitive in the coastal city of Manta on June 25, 2025, during a meticulously planned joint operation involving police and military forces.
Underground Hideout Discovered
Fito was tracked to an apparent underground bunker situated beneath a luxurious three-storey home in Manta’s Monterrey neighborhood, which is also his birthplace. The 10-hour operation culminated when officers stormed the residence and discovered a cleverly disguised sliding trap door hidden within the stone floor. Metal stairs led down to the concealed hideout.
Described as a “bunker,” the subterranean space was equipped with basic amenities including air conditioning, a bed, a fan, and a fridge. In stark contrast, the house above boasted high-end features like a gym with a punching bag and a games room complete with pool and table football. Security forces reported that Fito offered no resistance during his capture and no shots were fired throughout the operation.
Following his arrest, Fito was swiftly transferred by air to the port city of Guayaquil, home to some of Ecuador’s largest and most secure prisons. Footage showed him being escorted by armed officers in casual attire – shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops – before being taken to the La Roca maximum-security prison.
Who is ‘Fito’?
Adolfo Macías Villamar rose to prominence within Los Choneros, a gang that originated as hired hitmen in the 1980s and evolved into a major transnational criminal force. He assumed leadership after the previous head, Jorge Luis Zambrano (“Rasquiña”), was assassinated. From behind bars, Fito continued to direct the gang’s extensive criminal activities, including large-scale drug trafficking, extortion, and assassinations. Authorities strongly suspect he ordered the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was gunned down at a campaign rally just days before the 2023 election.
Under Fito’s command, Los Choneros forged crucial alliances with international cartels, notably Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel. Experts believe this partnership is directly responsible for the introduction of brutal tactics, such as beheadings and mutilations, previously uncommon in Ecuador but characteristic of Mexico’s drug war.
The Infamous 2024 Escape
Fito was already notorious prior to his latest capture. He had been serving a 34-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking, handed down in 2011. His escape in January 2024 from La Regional prison in Guayaquil sparked international headlines and plunged Ecuador into a severe security crisis. The escape, which occurred during a planned military operation and is believed to have been facilitated by complicity from individuals possibly including guards, triggered widespread chaos.
Within hours of his disappearance being discovered, deadly riots erupted in multiple prisons across the country, with inmates taking guards hostage. The violence escalated rapidly, spilling outside prison walls with explosions, terrorist attacks, and even the dramatic storming of a television station during a live broadcast. In response, President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and an “internal armed conflict,” ordering the militarization of both prisons and streets and implementing sweeping security reforms. This marked Fito’s second escape from prison, having previously broken out of the La Roca maximum-security facility in 2013 along with other Los Choneros members.
Extradition to the US Expected
President Daniel Noboa lauded the security forces for the successful operation, hailing the capture as a significant step in his government’s fight against organized crime. Noboa, who took office in November 2023 campaigning on a promise to combat the rising power of gangs, stated that Fito would be extradited to the United States.
US prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York had previously indicted Macías in absentia on seven counts related to cocaine distribution, conspiracy, and firearms-related crimes. The US government has publicly supported Ecuador’s efforts, with the US embassy in Quito stating its backing for the country’s actions against transnational crime and its promotion of regional security.
President Noboa credited the capture to his government’s recently promoted “Solidarity and Intelligence laws,” which grant authorities expanded powers, including allowing police to conduct searches without a warrant in certain circumstances. He vowed that “More [drug lords] will fall, we will regain [control of] the country,” reinforcing his commitment to cracking down on criminal networks.
While Fito’s capture represents a major victory for the Ecuadorian government, security experts caution that Los Choneros and other powerful criminal gangs remain highly active. Ecuador serves as a critical transit country for cocaine from neighboring Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru destined for markets in the USA and Europe, making the struggle against organized crime a complex and ongoing challenge.
