Adolfo Macías' Family Expelled from Argentina: Ecuador's Latest Move

The family of an Ecuadorean gang leader, Adolfo Macías Villamar, has been detained and expelled from Argentina. The move signifies Argentina's stance as a hostile territory for narco-criminals, according to Argentina's security minister. Macías Villamar, also known as Fito, escaped from an Ecuadorean prison recently and is currently at large. Ecuador is in a state of emergency as a nationwide search for the fugitive crime boss continues. The Argentine authorities released footage of individuals with connections to Fito, who were escorted on an air force plane by the police. They were apprehended at a property in Córdoba and subsequently sent back to Ecuador. Eight people were deported in total, including associates and family members. Argentina's interior minister emphasized that the country would not tolerate being a haven for criminals. This development occurs as Ecuador intensifies its pursuit of Fito amidst a gang-related crisis. Fito is the leader of the Los Choneros gang and has been implicated in previous acts of prison violence. He escaped from a facility in Guayaquil. He is also linked to the assassination of anti-corruption presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August last year. The escape prompted Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa, to declare war against gangs in the country and impose stringent security measures. However, Ecuador's gangs have responded with unprecedented levels of violence. Although authorities have regained control of the prisons after days of riots, the most wanted fugitive in the country, Fito, remains at large. President Noboa has called on Colombia to assist in the search for Fito and reiterated plans to deport foreign criminals to reduce prison overcrowding.