Latest news with #Ecuadoran
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ecuador's biggest drug lord ‘Fito' extradited to US
The Ecuadoran government on Sunday extradited notorious drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias 'Fito,' to the United States, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum security penitentiary, the country's prison authority said. The flight transporting Macias landed in New York state on Sunday night, according to the Flightradar tracking site. The US Attorney's Office filed charges in April against Macias, the head of the 'Los Choneros' gang, on suspicion of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. A letter filed by the US Department of Justice on Sunday said Macias was due to appear in a federal court on Monday 'for an arraignment on the Superseding Indictment in this case.' The drug lord on Sunday was removed from custody at a maximum security prison in Ecuador's southwest 'for the purposes that correspond to the extradition process,' Ecuador's prison authority SNAI said in a statement to reporters. Macias, a former taxi driver turned crime boss, agreed in a Quito court last week to be extradited to the United States to face the charges. He is the first Ecuadoran extradited by his country since a new measure was written into law last year, after a referendum in which President Daniel Noboa sought the approval of moves to boost his war on criminal gangs. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as enemy gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. Soon after Macias escaped from prison in January 2024, Noboa declared Ecuador to be in a state of 'internal armed conflict' and ordered the military and tanks into the streets to 'neutralize' the gangs. (Agencies)Drug trafficker Adolfo Macias (C), alias Fito, was taken to an air base in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on June 25, 2025.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Ecuador's biggest drug lord ‘Fito' pleads not guilty in US
Notorious Ecuadoran drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias 'Fito', has pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a US court, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum security penitentiary. The leader of the Los Choneros gang denied seven charges, including drug trafficking and arms trafficking,
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Notorious Ecuadoran Drug Trafficker Adolfo Macias Pleads Not Guilty In US Court
Last Updated: 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.
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ecuador's biggest drug lord 'Fito' pleads not guilty in US
NEW YORK - Notorious Ecuadoran drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," pleaded not guilty to narcotics charges in a US court Monday, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum security penitentiary. The leader of the Los Choneros gang delivered his "not guilty" plea in a Brooklyn federal court through his lawyer and with the help of an interpreter, an AFP correspondent saw. He denied seven charges, including drug trafficking and arms trafficking, 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 Monday's hearing. "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." The US Attorney's Office filed charges in April against Macias on suspicion of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the defendant "will soon face justice in the US for leading a vicious transnational criminal organization." The flight transporting Macias from Ecuador landed in New York state late Sunday. The former taxi driver turned crime boss agreed in a Quito court last week to be extradited to the United States to face the charges. GANG WARFARE Macias is the first Ecuadoran extradited by his country since a new measure was written into law last year, after a referendum in which President Daniel Noboa sought approval to intensify his war on criminal gangs. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters, Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as enemy gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. Soon after Macias escaped from prison in January 2024, Noboa declared Ecuador to be in a state of "internal armed conflict" and ordered the military and tanks into the streets to "neutralize" the gangs. The move was criticized by human rights organizations. Los Choneros has ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Colombia's Gulf Clan - the world's largest cocaine exporter - and Balkan mafias, according to the Ecuadorian Organized Crime Observatory. Macias's escape from prison prompted widespread violence and a massive military and police recapture operation, including government "wanted" posters offering $1 million for information leading to his arrest. On 25 June, Macias was found hiding in a bunker concealed under floor tiles in a luxury home in the fishing port of Manta, the center of operations for Los Choneros. Noboa declared he would be extradited, "the sooner the better." "We will gladly send him and let him answer to the North American law," Noboa told CNN at the time. More than 70 percent of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. In 2024, the country seized a record 294 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Ecuador's biggest drug lord 'Fito' extradited to U.S.
The head of the Los Choneros gang is on suspicion of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. Drug trafficker Adolfo Macias (C), alias Fito, was taken to an air base in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on June 25, 2025, after his recapture in Manta, Manabi Province. Photo by MARCOS PIN / AFP QUITO — The Ecuadoran government on Sunday extradited notorious drug trafficker Adolfo Macias, alias 'Fito,' to the United States, a month after he was recaptured following a 2024 escape from a maximum security penitentiary, the country's prison authority said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The US Attorney's Office filed charges in April against Macias, the head of the 'Los Choneros' gang, on suspicion of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms violations, including weapons smuggling. The drug lord on Sunday was removed from custody at a maximum security prison in Ecuador's southwest 'for the purposes that correspond to the extradition process,' Ecuador's prison authority SNAI said in a statement to reporters. Macias, a former taxi driver turned crime boss, agreed in a Quito court last week to be extradited to the United States to face the charges. He is the first Ecuadoran extradited by his country since a new measure was written into law last year, after a referendum in which President Daniel Noboa sought the approval of moves to boost his war on criminal gangs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as enemy gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. Soon after Macias escaped from prison in January 2024, Noboa declared Ecuador to be in a state of 'internal armed conflict' and ordered the military and tanks into the streets to 'neutralize' the gangs. The move has been criticized by human rights organizations. Macias's Los Choneros has ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Colombia's Gulf Clan — the world's largest cocaine exporter — and Balkan mafias, according to the Ecuadorian Organized Crime Observatory. The crime boss' escape from prison prompted widespread violence and a massive military and police recapture operation, including government 'wanted' posters offering $1 million for information leading to his arrest. On June 25, Macias was found hiding in a bunker concealed under floor tiles in a luxury home in the fishing port of Manta, the center of operations for Los Choneros. Noboa declared he would be extradited, 'the sooner the better.' 'We will gladly send him and let him answer to the North American law,' Noboa told CNN at the time. More than 70 percent of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. In 2024, the country seized a record 294 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine. Toronto & GTA Canada Football Editorial Cartoons Uncategorized
