Fito’s Family: TikTok, Money Laundering & Ecuador’s Criminal Finances

Fito’s Family and the Rise of TikTok-Based Money Laundering Schemes in Ecuador

Despite facing prosecution for money laundering, members of the family of alias Fito – a leader of the criminal organization Los Choneros – are maintaining an active presence on social media platforms like TikTok. Their accounts showcase displays of wealth, offer credit, and, alarmingly, appear to be connected to broader money laundering networks operating within Ecuador.

TikTok as a Hub for Illicit Financial Activity

Jair M., son of alias Fito, regularly uploads videos to TikTok featuring wads of USD 20 bills, alongside content showcasing a lavish lifestyle – high-complete vehicles, countryside estates, and displays of wealth. His sister, Queen Michelle, also publishes similar videos, displaying stacks of bills labeled with the names of various Ecuadorian cities, including Libertad, Quevedo, Milagro, and Playas.

Investigations reveal that these TikTok accounts are part of a larger network of users promoting suspicious financial schemes. According to a report by Ecuador Check, at least 50 accounts on the platform explicitly promote these schemes, collectively amassing over 630,000 followers and more than 800,000 views. A significant majority of posts utilize hashtags related to money and finance, with 80% of videos featuring music associated with narcocorridos.

Modernizing Traditional Criminal Practices

Security expert Renato Rivera, analyst at the Global Initiative against Organized Crime (Gi-Toc), suggests that the credit offerings seen on these accounts represent a modernized form of “chulco” – a traditional, informal lending practice often associated with criminal groups. This practice, historically prevalent in areas with limited banking access, typically involves high-interest loans linked to illicit networks.

The need to move money drives these activities, and pyramidal schemes are also at play. In a recent case, a network of influencers was investigated for allegedly moving USD 24 million in Ecuador through videos promoting digital businesses, investments, and cryptocurrencies.

The Fragility of Ecuador’s Financial Controls

Kléber Carrión, a security expert and former Intelligence police officer, points to the fragility of Ecuador’s anti-money laundering controls as a contributing factor to the proliferation of these schemes. He emphasizes the lack of regulation on digital platforms, which are exploited by criminal groups to offer loans and irregular businesses due to the limited information tracking.

These offers can also function as electronic scams, potentially luring individuals into depositing funds for procedures that never materialize. Narcocriminal groups actively seek front men and businesses to integrate illicit funds into the financial system.

The Role of “G5” Dollars and Dollarization

Investigations have uncovered the utilize of a code, “G5” or “5G,” on several of these accounts, potentially referring to a fresh type of high-quality counterfeit US dollars circulating in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico since approximately 2024. The Situational Assessment of the strategic environment of drug trafficking in Ecuador, published in 2025 by the National Police and the Organized Crime Observatory of Ecuador, identifies dollarization as a key factor attracting money laundering activities to the country.

Ongoing Prosecution and Family Involvement

The Prosecutor’s Office is currently prosecuting Fito’s family network for money laundering. The leader of Los Choneros, extradited to the United States, is accused of using three family schemes to funnel illicit money into Ecuador’s financial system. Fito’s children and mother are currently fugitives.