1Berita English – Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared a state of national emergency after the notorious drug lord, Adolfo Macias, also known as Fito and the ruthless leader of Los Choneros, escaped from prison on Sunday night (7/1).

Fito, aged 44, reportedly disappeared from his cell in the port city of Guayaquil on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred as Fito was about to be transferred to a maximum-security prison in the same city.

In response to this incident, Noboa imposed a national state of emergency for 60 days and ordered a massive manhunt, mobilizing thousands of police and military personnel to locate Fito.

“The time is up for drug dealers, murderers, and criminal organizations to dictate what the government should do,” said Noboa, as quoted by The Guardian.

President Noboa, 35, was elected as Ecuador’s president in the November elections. During his campaign, he promised to eradicate criminal organizations and gangs.

“We will not negotiate with terrorists, and we will not rest until we can restore peace to the people of Ecuador,” Noboa stated in his social media post.

Ecuador’s Chief of Police, Cesar Zapata, mentioned that Fito disappeared from his cell around Sunday noon local time. The Ecuadorian prosecutor’s office is investigating the case as a possible “escape from custody.” Two police officials have been arrested on suspicion of assisting Fito’s escape.

Ecuadorian prison authorities also confirmed that guards were being held hostage in five prisons nationwide at the same time Fito escaped. However, details of the hostage situation have not been fully explained by the authorities.

Videos circulated on social media showing prison guards being held hostage by masked inmates with knife threats. The guards pleaded with President Noboa in the video to ensure their safety and security.

Fito himself has been serving a 34-year prison sentence since 2011 for drug trafficking, murder, and organized crime. He was housed in Guayas 4 prison, known as La Regional, a notorious drug criminal detention center.

Meanwhile, Los Choneros is considered the most brutal drug cartel in Ecuador. The group emerged in the 1990s as a drug trade organization based in Chone, Manabi Province.

Ecuadorian authorities identify them as a branch of the Colombian drug cartel. Choneros operates in prisons throughout Ecuador and several cities. They are involved in microtrafficking, extortion, smuggling, and serve as hired assassins.