US Sanctions Ecuadorian Gang Los Choneros and Leader in Fight Against Drug Trafficking and Gang Violence
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken a significant step in combating drug trafficking and gang violence in Ecuador by sanctioning one of the country’s most violent gangs, Los Choneros, and its leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as “Fito”.
Background on Los Choneros
Los Choneros has been involved in drug trafficking since the 1990s and is responsible for escalating violence in Ecuador. The gang has ties to powerful Mexican drug cartels such as Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación. Macías Villamar, a founding member of Los Choneros, was sentenced to 34 years in prison in 2011 for crimes including murder and drug trafficking.
Rise in Violence in Ecuador
The sanctions come after a steep rise in violence in Ecuador attributed to the actions of Los Choneros and other drug trafficking gangs. The country has experienced record levels of gang-driven violence, including:
- The assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023
- An armed attack on a local TV network in January 2024
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa declared the country to be in a state of internal armed conflict on January 9, 2024, following the escape of Macías Villamar from his prison cell. The subsequent rioting and gang attacks across the country have led to kidnappings and bombings.
Sanctions Against Los Choneros and Macías Villamar
The sanctions will block all property and interests in property owned by Los Choneros and Macías Villamar that are within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons, as well as any entities that are owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons. The move aims to disrupt the gang’s ability to engage in drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
- All property and interests in property owned by Los Choneros and Macías Villamar within the United States or under U.S. control will be blocked
- Any entities owned 50% or more by one or more blocked persons will also be targeted
OFAC’s Action as Part of a Whole-Of-Government Effort
OFAC’s action is part of a whole-of-government effort to counter the global threat posed by illicit drug trafficking into the United States, which causes tens of thousands of American deaths annually. The agency will continue to target foreign illicit drug actors and pursue accountability for their actions.
Show of Support for Ecuador
The sanctions are also seen as a show of support for Ecuador in its fight against drug trafficking and gang violence, with Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson stating:
“We stand in support of Ecuador in its fight to combat drug trafficking, curb the proliferation of prison gangs and prison violence, and take back its streets.”
The sanctions demonstrate the United States’ commitment to working with Ecuador to address the root causes of drug trafficking and gang violence and to promote stability and security in the region.