Ever since Ecuador's most notorious gang leader vanished from his prison cell in January 2024, the mystery of his whereabouts has been the buzz of the nation.

José Adolfo Macías, known as “Fito,” will be extradited to the U.S., where he is wanted on accusations of trafficking drugs and smuggling weapons, Ecuador’s president said.

Ecuador’s president announced Wednesday that the country’s most-wanted fugitive, Los Choneros gang leader “Fito,” had been re-captured over a year after he escaped from prison, triggering a wave of violence.