Background on José Macías Villamar, alias ‘Fito’
José Macías Villamar, known by his alias ‘Fito’, is the leader of Los Choneros, a prominent criminal organization in Ecuador. He has been on the run for over a year and a half before his recent arrest less than a week ago. ‘Fito’ faces seven charges related to drug and weapon trafficking in the United States.
Ecuador’s Minister of Interior, John Reimberg, Addresses Extradition Concerns
John Reimberg, Ecuador’s Minister of Interior, denied any plans to extradite ‘Fito’ to El Salvador following a recent visit by Ecuadorian authorities. Reimberg expressed confidence that ‘Fito’ would be extradited to the United States before December.
Reimberg clarified that he and Ecuador’s Minister of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, traveled to El Salvador two months ago to discuss the security plan of the Bukele government. He explicitly denied any agreement to send high-profile criminals to El Salvador’s megacárceles.
‘Fito’ Expresses Concerns Over Potential Extradition
‘Fito’ reportedly expressed concern about being handed over to Salvadoran authorities after his arrest, fearing that Ecuador was preparing to send him there. In an interview with Ecuavisa, Reimberg confirmed that extradition proceedings to the United States have already begun.
Extradition Timeline and Decision-Making
Reimberg stated that he expects ‘Fito’s’ extradition to the United States to be finalized before December, emphasizing that this decision falls solely on Ecuador’s government.
“Wanting to go to the United States is not an option; it’s a decision our country will make,” Reimberg asserted.
Regarding the criminals, Reimberg noted that they “have no options” and their fate is not up for discussion.
Current Status of Los Choneros
‘Fito’s’ extradition to the United States raises questions about Los Choneros’ future. The organization, led by ‘Fito’ for less than five years, became decapitated in 2023 with the death of another key leader, Júnior Roldán, alias ‘JR’.
- Internal power struggles may emerge as different factions vie for control, similar to what occurred with groups like Los Tiguerones.
- The current uncertainty presents opportunities for other criminal groups to capitalize and assert dominance.
Conclusion
While ‘Fito’ remains in Ecuador’s maximum-security La Roca prison in Guayaquil, the future of Los Choneros remains uncertain. The extradition process to the United States continues, with Ecuador’s government making the final decision on ‘Fito’s’ future.
