Ecuadorian police announced a red notice for Jose “Fito” Macias, the leader of Los Choneros who escaped prison in January, was issued on Thursday after months of the escaped convict evading capture from authorities. This notice allows further cooperation between International Police (INTERPOL) and local authorities in regards to the capture of Fito, who many believe fled Ecuador for shelter in a foreign nation.
Efforts for Recapture
Previously, authorities theorized Fito may have planned to take shelter in Argentina after it was discovered the gang leader’s family, alongside eight associates, arrived in the country just two days prior to Fito’s escape and purchased a home. Following their discovery, those connected to Fito were swiftly deported to Ecuador, possibly foiling the gang leader’s plans to find sanctuary there.
This discovery has led many to theorize Fito has sought safety in another Latin American nation, noting that many countries’ police forces face funding issues, corruption, and are generally stretched too thin to operate with full efficiency. While a red notice is not an official warrant and thus not a demand from INTERPOL for the arrest of criminals, it provides countries an in-depth profile of wanted criminals including a physical description, fingerprints records, information regarding the crime they have been convicted on, among other key forms of identification.
The issuance of the red notice coincides with Ecuador’s newly introduced criminal rewards plan. The plan, which was largely pushed by President Daniel Noboa, establishes a hotline for information related to wanted criminals, granting awards for those who turn in information that results in the arrest of a wanted fugitive. This program was created with the intention of curbing Ecuador’s skyrocketing crime rate and ongoing security situation, beginning with rewards for information related to Fito alongside the assassins of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was killed on August 6, 2023, just two weeks prior to Ecuador’s 2023 General Elections.
This assassination shook Ecuador to its core, with critics of President Noboa alleging the now president played some role in the assassination, although no information related to this allegation has surfaced.
Ecuador’s Continued Security Struggle
Ecuador has historically struggled with organized crime. However, these issues turned to an active armed conflict within the nation following the escape of Fito and President Noboa’s declaration of a state of emergency in order to recapture the gang leader. Following this declaration, Ecuador’s gangs declared war against the government and began a bloody conflict with armed forces and civilians caught in the crossfire. This war culminated in the seizure of an Ecuadorian television station in January while prison riots, such as a case where gang members videotaped the killing of a corrections officer, engulfed the country.
Since then, Ecuadorian authorities have stepped up their operations in an effort to address the country’s abysmal security situation, launching international raids against criminal elements and capturing key leaders of the alliance of gangs known as “Second Generation,” which reportedly enjoys support from Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as well as Los Choneros, which is allegedly supported by the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel.
Other efforts to address rising violence within Ecuador lie in the construction of three new “mega prisons” which have drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT), which was constructed to house prisoners amid a large-scale crackdown on gang activity. These comparisons are not limited to the construction of prisons. Critics have expressed concerns regarding Noboa’s use of a state of emergency within Ecuador, arguing that Bukele implemented a similar strategy, leading to accusations of authoritarianism.
Originally, Noboa suggested building “prison ships” off the coast of Ecuador to house the country’s most dangerous criminals. This plan has seemingly been sidelined in favor of the construction of traditional prisons, a plan which would likely assist Ecuador more than “prison ships.” The country currently faces prison overcrowding, with approximately 31,300 people incarcerated in prisons only fit to house 27,500.
In another effort to address Ecuador’s security concerns, Noboa passed a number of security reforms in a national referendum that sought to grant the president more power to fight against the various criminal gangs within Ecuador. Between 63 and 70 percent of voters voted in favor of the security measures, some of which include the authorization to expand patrols by military and police units, prevent parole for crimes like kidnapping or terrorism financing, extradite wanted criminals, establish longer sentences for violent crimes, stricter gun restrictions in regions nearby prisons, and authorize the military to use confiscated weapons.
Fito’s recapture is vital to both Ecuador and President Noboa’s continued career as a politician, as securing the recapture of the gang leader will justify the president’s efforts to enact a harsh crackdown on crime. While the red notice does not promise a solid strategy to recapture Fito, it allows further cooperation between INTERPOL, Ecuador, and other nations.