The Ecuadorian Government continues this Monday with the search for José Adolfo Macías Salazar, alias 'Fito', leader of 'Los Choneros', considered one of the most dangerous criminal gangs in the country for its alleged links with Mexican cartels, who apparently escaped of the Litoral Penitentiary.
The Secretary General of Communication of the Presidency, Roberto Izurieta, stated that with some 3,000 police and military personnel they continue the search operation for 'Fito', a “criminal with extremely dangerous characteristics” related to terrorism.
According to Izurieta, 'Fito' had privileges in the prison in Ecuador where he was held, where the prison system “is failed.”
“The decision was that this subject be in a prison and in a security situation so that he does not continue operating as he has been operating in recent years,” he said in reference to the Government's intention to transfer him to another prison facility.
And he added that this action “is extremely dangerous. Entering prisons with a failed system like we have in Ecuador is an example of enormous value, it is a very complex logistical example, in which more or less 3,000 police and security personnel participate. Army, people who risk their lives,” he said.
Weekend?
Asked on Teleamazonas television if he knew when 'Fito' apparently escaped, the Secretary of Communication of the Presidency commented that “most likely” information was leaked and that it was “a matter of hours” before, but he stressed that “the search continues” and so far no incidents have been reported.
Likewise, he announced that the investigations into whether infiltrations occurred “and how the prisoner was not in his place” will be made known later.
He asked for unity in the country to adopt measures to put an end to situations like the current one, such as the creation of high security prisons, such as one that will begin to be built this week in the Amazonian province of Pastaza.
He commented that the meeting of the Public Security Council, which President Daniel Noboa chaired on Sunday, “is an example” of the importance of the unity that is required of all functions of the State and the country.
Izurieta asked that the “confidence that this criminal will be found be maintained because at this moment the force of the State is in motion to find this extremely dangerous individual.”
That same Sunday, shortly after the search for alias 'Fito' began, the Prosecutor's Office opened – ex officio – an investigation “into the alleged evasion of prisoner Adolfo MV, alias 'Fito' – leader of the criminal group 'Los Choneros'-, from the Litoral Penitentiary”.
'Fito' is the leader of “Los Choneros”, considered by Ecuadorian authorities to be one of the largest criminal gangs in the country with alleged links to Mexican cartels.
A few months ago they transferred alias Fito to another prison.
'The Choneros'
'Los Choneros' emerged in the 1990s in Chone, a city in the coastal province of Manabí, and progressively gained power on drug trafficking routes, particularly in the transit of cocaine from Colombia to Central America or North America, according to Police reports.
According to the same authorities, they are currently dedicated to drug trafficking, extortion, hitmen and arms trafficking, among other crimes, and are in conflict with 'Los Lobos' and 'Los Tiguerones'.
EFE
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