Ecuador's Gang Leader 'Fito' Sparks Wave of Violence and Fear
TL;DR
José Adolfo Macías Villamar, leader of the Ecuadorian gang Los Choneros, has gone missing from his prison cell, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency and deploy the military into prisons. Macías, known as "Fito," has a history of criminal activities and was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking. His disappearance has led to a wave of attacks across Ecuador, including a brazen raid at a television station. Authorities suspect he may have escaped from his cell, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
- Who's 'Fito,' Ecuador's Los Choneros gang leader missing from prison NBC News
- Ecuador Shaken by Days of Terror After Gang Leader’s Disappearance The New York Times
- How Ecuador descended into gang violence BBC.com
- Vantage | How crime lords came to dominate Ecuador and why it matters Firstpost
- The Guardian view on Ecuador’s gang violence: a domestic crisis with transnational roots The Guardian
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