José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias "Fito," the head of the Los Choneros drug gang and Ecuador's number one wanted drug lord, has been arrested after a 17-month-long escape. He was captured by special police and military forces in his hometown of Manta. The key to his capture was an unintentional disclosure from his 3-year-old daughter, who revealed his location.

The police had already pinpointed his hiding place, which included a secret bunker, where Fito was hiding under a hidden door in the kitchen floor. During approximately 10 hours of containment, police used heavy machinery to pressurize Fito, forcing him to open the bunker hatch and surrender, whereupon he was immediately identified by the authorities.

Villamar, 45, had been serving a 34-year sentence for organized crime, drug trafficking, and homicide since 2011. This marks his second escape, the first being in 2013, when he was captured three months later. After escaping from Guayaquil prison in January 2024, Ecuador has experienced multiple prison riots and significant social unrest, leading President Daniel Noboa to declare a state of emergency in several provinces.

Villamar's capture represents a significant breakthrough for the government in its fight against international drug trafficking organizations. Following his arrest, President Noboa confirmed the news on social media platform X and stated that extradition procedures with the United States have begun. The U.S. has filed multiple drug and weapon charges against Villamar, which, if convicted, could result in life imprisonment.