The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on Los Choneros, a violent gang in Ecuador, and its leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as "Fito." This action is part of efforts to counter narcotics-related activities attributed to the gang.
Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that "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." He emphasized support for Ecuador's fight against drug trafficking and related violence.
Ecuador has been facing increasing gang-driven violence, including high-profile incidents like the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023. The Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación have contributed to this violence by supporting rival gangs within Ecuador.
In January 2024, violence escalated following Macías Villamar's escape from prison just before his transfer to a maximum-security facility. This led to a state of emergency declared by President Daniel Noboa due to internal armed conflict.
Los Choneros have been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s and are considered key players in Ecuador's ongoing violence. They have allegedly collaborated with the Sinaloa Cartel by providing security for cocaine trafficking routes through Ecuador.
Macías Villamar was sentenced to 34 years in prison in 2011 for murder and drug trafficking but continued directing gang activities from behind bars. OFAC designated him under Executive Order 14059 for contributing significantly to international illicit drug proliferation.
A $5 million reward remains available from the U.S. Department of State for information leading to arrests related to Villavicencio's assassination.
As a result of these sanctions, all property associated with Los Choneros or Macías Villamar within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked. Transactions involving these entities are prohibited unless authorized by OFAC.
This action aligns with broader government efforts under President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy aimed at combating global illicit drug threats affecting American lives.