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WATCH the moment Ecuador’s most-wanted fugitive, a drug lord dubbed “The Lion”, is recaptured by police beneath a trap door.

José Adolfo Macías Villamar, commonly known as Fito, had been evading capture for a year-and-a-half following his dramatic escape from prison in January 2024. His breakout ignited a surge of unrest across the nation.

José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as Fito, was recaptured after a year-and-a-half on the runCredit: Jam Press/@EjercitoECU
Story from Jam Press (Criminal In Bunker) Pictured: A video grab of the ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal, Jos¿ Adolfo Mac¿as Villamar being captured by the Ecuadorian Army. VIDEO: ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal found in underground bunker in luxury home A ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal has been found in an underground bunker in a luxury home. Jos¿ Adolfo Mac¿as Villamar, alias ¿Fito¿, escaped from prison in late 2023. The 45-year-old now faces possible extradition to the US on seven charges issued against him in April this year. The suspected leader of Los Choneros, Ecuador's largest and oldest criminal gang, was convicted of murder and supplying the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel with tons of cocaine in 2011. Ecuador's most wanted man was recaptured in his hometown of Manta in the coastal province of Manab¿, the birthplace and stronghold of Los Choneros, on Wednesday (25 Jun). The Ecuadorian Army shared images of its impressive hideout on social media. Interior Minister John Reimberg said soldiers used an excavator to access the bunker during a 10-hour military operation. Fito was detained along with four other men who were reportedly guarding him. President Daniel Noboa called Fito one of the main targets of his ¿war¿ against organised crime in the country, which has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America. He added: ¿We have done our part to proceed with Fito's extradition to the United States; we are awaiting their response.¿ The government had issued a ¿727,730 ( million) reward for information leading to the gang leader¿s arrest, as reported by NeedToKnow. Fito escaped from Guayaquil Regional Prison 18 months ago, and the trail went cold on his recapture. Earlier this month, several members of his inner circle, including his brother and relatives of his partner, were arrested for allegedly laundering at least ¿17.5 million (4 million). Following his recapture, Fito was taken to Ecuador's maximum-security La Roca prison in Guayaquil to resume his 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, murder, and organised crime, imposed in 2011. In April, the US government issued seven charges against Fito, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, use of firearms, and smuggling arms. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Los Choneros and their leader in February 2024. Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said: ¿Drug trafficking gangs such as Los Choneros, many with ties to powerful drug cartels in Mexico, threaten the lives and livelihoods of communities in Ecuador and throughout the region. ¿We stand in support of Ecuador in its fight to combat drug trafficking, curb the proliferation of prison gangs and prison violence, and take back its streets.¿ The extradition process to the US is ongoing. ENDS EDITOR'S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EMERGENCY SERVICES) We have obtained this material directly from the emergency services (fire/police/ambulance/rescue workers). Video Restrictions: None.
The fugitive was held on the floor at gunpoint and tied up
Story from Jam Press (Criminal In Bunker) Pictured: The ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal, Jos¿ Adolfo Mac¿as Villamar¿s luxury home hidden in an underground bunker. VIDEO: ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal found in underground bunker in luxury home A ¿Most Wanted¿ criminal has been found in an underground bunker in a luxury home. Jos¿ Adolfo Mac¿as Villamar, alias ¿Fito¿, escaped from prison in late 2023. The 45-year-old now faces possible extradition to the US on seven charges issued against him in April this year. The suspected leader of Los Choneros, Ecuador's largest and oldest criminal gang, was convicted of murder and supplying the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel with tons of cocaine in 2011. Ecuador's most wanted man was recaptured in his hometown of Manta in the coastal province of Manab¿, the birthplace and stronghold of Los Choneros, on Wednesday (25 Jun). The Ecuadorian Army shared images of its impressive hideout on social media. Interior Minister John Reimberg said soldiers used an excavator to access the bunker during a 10-hour military operation. Fito was detained along with four other men who were reportedly guarding him. President Daniel Noboa called Fito one of the main targets of his ¿war¿ against organised crime in the country, which has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America. He added: ¿We have done our part to proceed with Fito's extradition to the United States; we are awaiting their response.¿ The government had issued a ¿727,730 ( million) reward for information leading to the gang leader¿s arrest, as reported by NeedToKnow. Fito escaped from Guayaquil Regional Prison 18 months ago, and the trail went cold on his recapture. Earlier this month, several members of his inner circle, including his brother and relatives of his partner, were arrested for allegedly laundering at least ¿17.5 million (4 million). Following his recapture, Fito was taken to Ecuador's maximum-security La Roca prison in Guayaquil to resume his 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, murder, and organised crime, imposed in 2011. In April, the US government issued seven charges against Fito, including conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, use of firearms, and smuggling arms. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Los Choneros and their leader in February 2024. Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said: ¿Drug trafficking gangs such as Los Choneros, many with ties to powerful drug cartels in Mexico, threaten the lives and livelihoods of communities in Ecuador and throughout the region. ¿We stand in support of Ecuador in its fight to combat drug trafficking, curb the proliferation of prison gangs and prison violence, and take back its streets.¿ The extradition process to the US is ongoing. ENDS EDITOR'S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EMERGENCY SERVICES) We have obtained this material directly from the emergency services (fire/police/ambulance/rescue workers). Video Restrictions: None.
Fito was found hiding in an air-conditioned bunker beneath the floor of a kitchen

Footage of Wednesday’s arrest shows Fito pinned to the ground on his front surrounded by a swarm of heavily-armed cops.

He calmly repeats his name at the orders of officers who bind his hands with cable ties and aim a pistol at his head.

Another clip shows where the narco kingpin was discovered hiding.

A huge slab of false floor slides back to reveal a hidden chamber extending through the house’s foundations.

Cops filmed themselves lowering into the cramped space and showed off the tight air-conditioned bunker which had concealed him.

Authorities ultimately apprehended Fito at his girlfriend’s lavish residence while she was incarcerated, with his three-year-old daughter unintentionally revealing his hideout.

Before escaping, the convict had been serving a 34-year sentence for organised crime, drug trafficking and murder.

His jailbreak sparked a surge in gang violence across Mexico which left at least 20 people dead.

The country’s president, Daniel Noboa, declared a 60-day state of emergency in multiple provinces following the escalation.

Fito evaded the authorities for eighteen months, despite a massive-scale operation to pin him down.

Ecuadorian police bring end to terrifying live TV hijack and arrest several suspects

Several members of his family were arrested a month ago, and many of their assets were confiscated in raids as the authorities tightened the screw.

John Reimberg, the country’s interior minister, described the sting as a “psychological operation”.

The trail to Fito began when it was noticed that a city transport official had stopped turning up to work – arousing suspicions.

Tailing him led the police to Fito’s inner circle, according to the national police commander.

They noticed he frequently visited a swanky three-story building complete with a huge swimming pool, a fully-equipped gym and a games room.

There were reportedly brand new sofas still wrapped in plastic and TVs still in their boxes.

The bunker was concealed beneath the kitchen of a plush three-storey apartmentCredit: Jam Press/@EjercitoECU
Soldiers in an armored vehicle patrol a city street.
Tanks took to the streets when the President declared a 60-day state of emergency after Fito’s jailbreak last year
A shirtless man with his hands on his head is surrounded by uniformed police officers.
The drug kingpin is now threatened with extradition to the US

The decisive tip that Fito would be present during the police operation was inadvertently provided by his young daughter, as stated by police commander Víctor Ordóñez.

In a ten-hour operation, a huge cordon was put in place in the surrounding streets and drones buzzed around the give cops a 360 view.

After a fine-tooth search, Fito was finally snared in an air-conditioned bunker accessed through a trap door beneath the kitchen sink.

When the teams brought in heavy excavation equipment, Fito realised he could be crushed to death and scarpered out.

Reimberg said: “When this happened, Fito panicked.

“He opened the hatch where military and police personnel were located and left the hole.”

Within minutes, he was on the ground with guns pointed at his head and being forced to repeat his name out loud.

He is now threatened with extradition to the US.

José Adolfo Macías Villamar, a wanted criminal, in custody with two law enforcement officials.
Fito will resume his 34-year sentenceCredit: Jam Press/@EjercitoECU
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