Colombia Arrests Wife and Daughter of Ecuadorian Drug Lord ‘Fito

Arrest of Gang Relatives in Northeastern Colombia

The arrests took place in northeastern Colombia following a coordinated intelligence effort that linked local security forces with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ecuadorian law enforcement. De la Espriella published video footage and images of the operation on X, emphasizing that Colombia will not serve as a financial sanctuary for organized crime syndicates. His counterpart replied on the same platform: “That’s how we work, Abelardo: together and with results.”

Ecuadorian investigators accuse the two women of establishing shell corporations to launder funds generated by Los Choneros. According to President De la Espriella, the women will be sent to Ecuador to face local judicial proceedings.

Background on Los Choneros Leader Adolfo Macias

The targeted relatives are connected to Adolfo Macias, widely known by the alias “Fito,” who commanded Los Choneros before his high-profile escape and subsequent extradition. In January 2024, prison guards discovered Macias missing from his cell in Quito, where he was serving a 34-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking. His escape prompted Ecuadorian authorities to declare a 60-day state of emergency.

Following his recapture, Macias was extradited to the United States last year. He currently faces seven federal charges in a New York court, encompassing drug trafficking and arms trafficking offenses that carry potential prison sentences ranging from 20 years to life. He entered a plea of not guilty.

The U.S. government designated Los Choneros as a terrorist organization last year, matching a similar domestic designation by Ecuador, which classifies 20 distinct gangs as terrorist groups. Los Choneros operates as a primary regional ally of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, engaging in violent turf wars for control of lucrative shipping routes and ports.

Ecuadorian Security Context and Prior Enforcement

Ecuador has experienced a sharp escalation in gang-related violence as the country transformed from a relatively stable nation into a vital transit corridor for cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru. Transnational cartels frequently partner with domestic factions like Los Choneros to manage maritime smuggling logistics.

Law enforcement agencies have intensified operations targeting the gang’s leadership structure. Last September, security forces captured Dario Penafiel, a high-ranking Los Choneros lieutenant known as “Topo,” in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where authorities reported he was directing illegal mineral extraction operations.