22 September 2023 , 13:22
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A music video featuring a notorious drug lord has sparked fury in Ecuador as it was able to be filmed inside a maximum security prison.
Thousands of Ecuadorian soldiers were involved in moving Adolfo Macias, alias Fito, to a new prison in Guayaquil following the murder of a presidential candidate who he is accused of ordering.
Last month about 4,000 soldiers and police officers raided the jail where Fito was being held and seized weapons, ammunition and explosives. Corrections officials released images of the raid showing several prisoners, including Fito, who is serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, organized crime and homicide.
Now Fito, who is the leader of the feared Los Choneros cartel, has been seen in a music video honouring him, where he is sitting reading inside the maximum security Guayaquil prison that is considered to be under his control. On his fingers are also two gold rings in the form of lions and a bracelet in the same style.
He could be seen wearing gold rings and a braceletIn the music video called ‘the lion’s ballad’, that appears professionally made, it tries to make out that Fito is not a bad person while taunting the government that it doesn’t have control.
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Prison authorities have not been able to explain how the video took place or how recording equipment could have been brought into the heavily guarded facilities. It stated: “Following the recording of the music video where there are images inside the Guayas male prison number four … we inform that authorisation was not given for recording equipment, production companies to enter.” It concluded that the only way it could have been done was illegally.
Fito was moved to the high security prison last month (Ecuadorean Armed Forces/AFP via)Los Choneros is a gang believed to be around 8,000 strong, according to experts, that is linked to Mexican and Colombian cartels. It is involved in a bloody battle with other Ecuadorian gangs with more than 430 prisoners killed since February, 2021, many of whom were incinerated or had their bodies cut up.
Last month Fito was moved to a maximum security cell following the death of Fernando Villavicencio, during a campaign rally in Quito, who was promising to crack down on drug cartels. He is believed to have been killed by Colombian hitmen but under the orders of Fito who had made threats against him as had Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
But Villavicencio believed popular support would keep him safe. “You’re my bulletproof vest. I don’t need one. You’re a brave people and I’m as brave as you are,” he had said at a public meeting in the city of Chone, the heart of Los Choneros territory. “Bring on the drug lords. Bring on the hitmen.”