Gunmen disguised as police officers killed David Macías, the brother of Ecuador’s most notorious drug lord, in the early hours of Sunday. The 35-year-old was a regional leader in Los Choneros, the powerful criminal gang once headed by his brother Adolfo.
Targeted killing in Ecuador's gang conflict
Witnesses reported that men dressed as police entered a rented home in Olón, an upscale coastal town, where Macías was staying. The attackers fled after the shooting, and no arrests have been made. Such targeted killings are common in Ecuador’s gang wars, often involving rival groups or internal power struggles.
Adolfo Macías, known as "Fito," was extradited to the U.S. last year and is awaiting trial. Los Choneros, now designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the U.S., is linked to Ecuador’s rising murder rate.
David Macías' criminal history
David Macías pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy in 2018. While incarcerated, he reportedly recruited inmates for Los Choneros and consolidated the gang’s control over his prison.
His death follows the arrest of Adolfo Macías in 2023 and another brother, Javier, in Colombia last month, further weakening Los Choneros’ leadership.
