
Notorious Ecuadoran Drug Trafficker Adolfo Macias Pleads Not Guilty In US Court
The leader of the Los Choneros gang delivered his 'not guilty' plea in a federal court in Brooklyn through his lawyer and with the help of an interpreter, AFP reported.
Notorious Ecuadoran drug trafficker Adolfo Macias has pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a court in the United States on Monday, nearly a month after he was arrested again after he escaped from a maximum security penitentiary in 2024.
The leader of the Los Choneros gang delivered his 'not guilty" plea in a federal court in Brooklyn through his lawyer and with the help of an interpreter, AFP reported.
The man denied seven charges, which included drug trafficking and arms trafficking – which is punishable by 20 years to life imprisonment.
'As alleged, the defendant served for years as the principal leader of Los Choneros, a notoriously violent transnational criminal organization, and was a ruthless and infamous drug and firearms trafficker," US attorney Joseph Nocella said in a statement ahead of hearing on Monday.
'The defendant and his co-conspirators flooded the United States and other countries with drugs and used extreme measures of violence in their quest for power and control."
In April, the US Attorney's Office filed charges against Macias for allegedly being involved in cocaine trafficking, conspiracy, and gun-related crimes, including smuggling weapons.
The flight carrying Macias from Ecuador arrived in New York state late Sunday.
Last week, Macias—who was once a taxi driver but later became a crime leader—agreed in a court in Quito to be sent to the US to face these charges.
Macias is the first person from Ecuador to be extradited under a new law passed last year. The law was approved after a public vote, where President Daniel Noboa asked citizens to support tougher action against criminal gangs.
Ecuador, once a peaceful country located between Colombia and Peru—the world's top cocaine producers—has seen a rise in violence as rival gangs linked to Mexican and Colombian cartels fight for power.
In January 2024, after Macias escaped from prison, President Noboa declared a state of 'internal armed conflict". He sent the military and tanks into the streets to take down the gangs.
Macias's escape led to a wave of violence and a large operation by police and the military to catch him. The government even offered a $1 million reward for information that would lead to his capture.
On June 25, Macias was found hiding in a bunker under floor tiles in a luxury house in Manta, a port city known as the base of his gang, Los Choneros. President Noboa said Macias should be extradited 'the sooner the better."
(With AFP inputs)
view comments
First Published:
July 21, 2025, 23:39 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
Kerala govt to continue with revised school timings
Agency: Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 25 (PTI) The Kerala government on Friday decided to continue with the revised educational calendar for the academic year 2025-26, despite opposition from certain religious organisations. After holding discussions with the managements of schools run by various community organisations, including Muslim Educational Society (MES), Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP), Nair Service Society (NSS), and Samastha here, state Education Minister V Sivankutty told reporters that the government will stick to the revised timings in schools. As for the next academic year, further discussions can be held on the subject along with other issues that might crop up in future, the minister said. As per the government's decision, all schools will start their classes from 9.45 am instead of 10 am and end at 4.15 pm instead of 4 pm, he said. Muslim organisations had opposed the timing, saying that religious studies in the morning at the Madrassas will be disrupted with the revised timings. The minister claimed that all those who took part in the discussion were convinced about the objective of the decision, made according to a High Court verdict based on the recommendations of a panel set up by the government. Sivankutty said the government talked with the managements as discussions were essential in a democratic set-up when different opinions are expressed. 'We convinced them of the need to revise the timings in accordance with the Court's directions and state education rules, he said. The Kerala Education Rules prescribe 128 working days for 1-4 classes, 200 working days for 5-7 classes, and 204 working days for 8-10 classes in an academic year. 'It is only a matter of an extra 15 minutes in the morning and no one needs to be too much concerned about it," he said. Replying to a query, he said anyone can approach the court if they have complaints regarding the decision. The minister said a safety audit will be conducted in all the schools across the state. Deputy Directors of Education have been asked to inform the respective district collectors about the safety status of schools in their areas. PTI MVG MVG ROH view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
After France, UK May Also Recognise Palestine As A State But There's A Crucial Rider
Last Updated: UK PM Keir Starmer, pressured by Labour and European allies, backs Palestinian statehood but demands a Gaza ceasefire first. After France announced plans to recognise Palestine as a state, the British government signalled growing openness to the move but stressed that securing a ceasefire and addressing Gaza's humanitarian crisis remain immediate priorities. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, facing rising pressure from within his Labour Party and key European allies, reiterated that while Palestinian statehood is an 'inalienable right," formal UK recognition would not happen before a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is reached. UK Science and Technology Minister Peter Kyle told Sky News, 'We want Palestinian statehood, we desire it and we want to make sure the circumstances can exist where that kind of long-term political solution can have the space to evolve. But right now, today, we've got to focus on what will ease the suffering and it is extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza that has to be the priority for us today." Pressure from Labour And Europe France's move, condemned by Israel and the US, has amplified calls within Britain to follow suit. Labour MPs, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, urged Keir Starmer to recognise Palestinian statehood immediately. Cabinet minister Shabana Mahmood said it would deliver 'multiple benefits" and signal a shift in Britain's position on the conflict. Ceasefire First, Recognition Later Despite the calls, Keir Starmer stuck to the UK's long-held policy of recognition at 'the right time." In a statement ahead of a scheduled call with French and German leaders, he called the Gaza situation 'an unspeakable and indefensible humanitarian catastrophe" but clarified that recognition of a Palestinian state must follow a ceasefire. The US has opposed France's move and does not support unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
Thailand Declares Martial Law In Areas Bordering Cambodia After Deadly Clashes
Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned Friday that cross-border clashes with Cambodia that have uprooted more than 130,000 people "could develop into war", as the countries traded deadly strikes for a second day. A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, and the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis later Friday. On Friday evening, a Thailand military border commander declared martial law in eight districts on the frontier with Cambodia, citing "Cambodia's use of force to enter Thai territory". A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian -- a 70-year-old man -- had been killed and five more wounded. More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities -- 14 civilians and a soldier -- with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops. "We have tried to compromise as we are neighbours, but we have now instructed the Thai military to act immediately in case of urgency," said Phumtham. "If the situation escalates, it could develop into war -- though for now, it remains limited to clashes," he told reporters in Bangkok. Fighting resumed in three areas around 4:00 am on Friday (2100 GMT Thursday), the Thai army said, with Cambodian forces firing heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems, and Thai troops responding "with appropriate supporting fire". - 'Deeply distressing' - By the afternoon, foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told AFP there were signs the fighting was easing off, and said Thailand was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia. "We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response," Nikorndej told AFP. Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members. However Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed Thailand had already backed out of one proposed truce, saying in a statement he was awaiting Bangkok's "genuine willingness" to de-escalate. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said casualties were "deeply distressing" and called for the crisis to be "approached calmly and handled properly". Cambodia has stayed tight-lipped about its casualty numbers, but AFP journalists saw four wounded soldiers and three civilians receiving treatment at a hospital in Oddar Meanchey. The soldiers said they were injured during the fighting on Thursday, while the civilians said they were hit by shrapnel. In the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the border, AFP journalists saw families speeding away in vehicles with their children and belongings as gunfire erupted. "I live very close to the border. We are scared," Pro Bak, 41, told AFP. He was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple to seek refuge. - Long-running dispute - The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours -- both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists -- over their shared 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier. Dozens of kilometres in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced. A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash. Fighting on Thursday was focused on six locations, according to the Thai army, including around two ancient temples. Ground troops backed up by tanks battled for control of territory, while Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand and the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border. Both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket.