Colombian authorities announced on Sunday that they apprehended the wife and daughter of a prominent Ecuadorian gang leader, who was extradited to the United States last year facing drug trafficking allegations.
The arrests occurred in Sabana de Torres, a small town in northeastern Colombia, as part of an operation supported by the FBI and Ecuadorian officials. The two women are also wanted in Ecuador for money laundering.
“Colombia will not serve as a refuge for the financial operations of transnational criminal organizations,” stated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on social media. He added, “I will gladly send these women to my ally President Daniel Noboa, so they can answer for their actions in Ecuador.”
The gang leader, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito,” escaped from a Guayaquil prison in January 2024, triggering a state of emergency in Ecuador, which resulted in violent riots in prisons and street unrest in Guayaquil, including a dramatic incident where gang members took control of a television station during a live broadcast.
After being captured again, Macías Villamar was extradited to the U.S., where he faces charges for importing significant quantities of cocaine. His gang, Los Choneros, was labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department last year.
Despite significant crackdowns, including the capture of high-profile figures like Macías Villamar and deploying military forces in various cities, Ecuador continues to struggle with increasing levels of drug-related violence. Since 2020, the country has seen a fivefold increase in its homicide rate, with last year featuring its highest rate in recent history: 50 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
President Noboa’s strategies against drug trafficking have faced backlash from human rights organizations, particularly following instances of military abuse, including the tragic killings of four children aged 11 to 15 in 2024. Nevertheless, Noboa was reelected last year for another four-year term, as public concern over crime continues to grow.
