19 January 2024 , 11:21
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The wife and three children of a violent Ecuadorian drugs boss have been arrested in Argentina.
Jose Adolfo Macias, leader of the powerful Los Choneros gang, sparked chaos earlier this month after disappearing from a jail in the city of Guayaquil. Also known as 'Fito', he had been serving a 34-year sentence for organised crime, drug trafficking and murder.
His escape has been followed by days of rioting and violence in the South American country, including a shocking on-air raid on a TV show with machine guns and 'bombs', leading to the president declaring a state of emergency.
Eight of Fito's relatives and associates have now been held at a mansion on the outskirts of the Argentinian city of Cordoba.
The wife and children of Ecuadorian drugs boss Jose Adolfo Macias (pictured) have been arrested (Ecuadorean Armed Forces) Regional newspaper La Voz says the arrests took place at a gated upmarket residential estate called Valle del Golf a part of a huge police operation involving elite police units.
The operation was given the green light after investigators discovered the property had been rented in dollars by Ecuadorian nationals, and confirmed they included relatives of Matias.
Argentina’s security minister Patricia Bullrich and her regional counterpart Juan Pablo Quinteros are expected to offer more details at a press conference on Friday Local media are reporting all eight detainees now face extradition to Ecuador and have now been transferred to a military-run jail
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The Los Choneros gang leader has sparked days of violence in Ecuador escaped from a jail in the city of Guayaquil (Getty Images)Inda Penarrieta, Macias' wife, is said to have entered Argentina 10 days before her husband escaped jail. She regularly posted on Facebook until the end of last year, but her last post was on December 29.
On January hooded gunmen burst into TC Television in Guayaquil and fired off shots while employees were broadcasting. Ecuadorian journalist Jose Luis Calderon, who was live on air when the drama occurred, revealed after it was over that the intruders stuffed his jacket with an improvised explosive and threatened to kill him if police arrived.
The South American nation’s attorney general’s office later confirmed 13 people were arrested after heavily-armed police stormed the building and were set to be charged with terror offences. On Wednesday, a leading Ecuadorian prosecutor who was investigating the armed attack was shot dead.
Cesar Suarez was targeted in a professional hit as he drove through the port city of Guayaquil. Two suspects have been arrested. Fito’s whereabouts are currently not known although he is believed to have fled Ecuador. Police sources have said he may be going into hiding in Colombia or Peru.