Keto – Arab Canada News

The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, announced on Tuesday evening the re-arrest of José Adolfo Macías, known by the nickname “Vito,” the leader of the criminal gang “Los Choneros,” after a year of his escape from a high-security prison in the country.

Noboa wrote on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter):

“We have done what is necessary to proceed with his extradition to the United States, and we are waiting for a response.”

“Vito” is considered the top enemy of the Ecuadorian state, as he leads one of the most dangerous criminal gangs in the country, involved in drug trafficking and the commission of hundreds of violent crimes, including assassinations and executions inside and outside prisons.

Vito's escape in January 2024 shocked security agencies and ignited a wave of bloody violence in the country, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency and deploy army forces in the streets. The gang has also been linked to close ties with international cartels, including criminal groups operating in Mexico and Colombia.

The re-arrest comes at a sensitive time, as Ecuador faces escalating security challenges with the growing influence of gangs in ports and coastal cities, amid government efforts to enhance security cooperation with the United States in the areas of drug trafficking and the extradition of fugitives.