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This week, Ecuadorian security forces captured the country’s most notorious criminal leader in a crucial, though largely symbolic, win in its “war on gangs.” A joint operation by police and military on June 25 led to the capture of Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” leader of the Choneros, one of Ecuador’s top drug trafficking groups.


Also this week, in a unique case, the US government announced sanctions against several leaders of the Jalisco Cartel for their alleged role in a gender-based killing; we reviewed the new Netflix docuseries “Cocaine Air,” which highlights just one part of the cocaine pipeline to Europe; and we explore how legal concerns and mounting civilian casualties from a wave of drone strikes in Haiti, which has reportedly killed hundreds of alleged gang members, have raised questions about the strategy’s long-term effectiveness.


This and more below.

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Ecuadorian security forces captured the country’s most notorious criminal leader in a crucial — though largely symbolic — win in its “war on gangs.”


A joint operation by police and military on June 25 led to the capture of Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” leader of the Choneros, one of Ecuador’s top drug trafficking groups.


The operation, which reportedly lasted 10 hours, led security forces to a mansion in Montecristi, a town just outside Manta, Fito’s home city. Pictures and videos circulating on social media show soldiers opening what appears to be a trap door in the floor of the mansion, leading to a bunker in which Fito was hiding.


Read the article here >

InSight Crime investigator Juan Camilo Jaramillo offered authoritative analysis for an article by La Silla Vacía regarding the attempted assassination of Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay. As authorities investigate who was behind the attack on June 7, multiple theories have surfaced, though none of them are supported by solid evidence. Both government and opposition officials have blamed drug trafficking groups, with various possible motives: from pressuring the Petro administration to trying to sway the outcome of the 2026 election.


Read our analysis here >

This Week's Criminal Profile: Choneros

The Choneros are among Ecuador’s most prominent criminal groups, playing a central role in the country’s recent violence. This week, the gang leader, Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, alias “Fito,” was recaptured on January 25 in a joint operation between the Ecuadorian police and army.


Fito had been on the run since January 2024, when he escaped from his stronghold and center of criminal operations, Guayaquil’s La Regional prison — the same prison where authorities took him after his latest capture. While the Choneros have survived numerous setbacks over the years, their future will depend on adapting to the rapidly evolving criminal landscape.

Trending: US Targets Tren de Aragua Leader

The US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, alias “El Viejo,” leader of the transnational criminal group, Tren de Aragua. The FBI also named him one of the organization’s most wanted, and the Justice Department unsealed a criminal indictment against him and another gang leader for terrorism and international drug trafficking charges.

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