Ecuador to extradite notorious drug gang leader to U.S.

Ecuador's apical tribunal connected Wednesday approved the extradition to the United States of a high-ranking lieutenant of the "Los Choneros" gang.

Dario Penafiel, known arsenic "Topo," was arrested successful September successful Ecuador's Amazon, wherever helium is believed to person been coordinating amerciable mineral extraction.

Authorities said Topo had ties to a dissident faction of Colombia's FARC guerillas and was wanted by a New York court.

The extradition was authorized, according to a connection from the Ecuador's national court, for Penafiel "to beryllium tried for large-scale cause trafficking offenses and the usage of firearms."

Penafiel had been imprisoned successful Ecuador for kidnapping and transgression conspiracy, and was released aft serving a partial sentence. A lawsuit against him alleging the execution of a constabulary serviceman was dismissed.

According to section media, Penafiel met 1 of Ecuador's astir almighty cause lords, Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," successful a situation successful Guayaquil, a hub for cause exports. Penafiel became his right-hand antheral down bars and went to enactment for him successful amerciable golden extraction aft helium was released.

Police officers clasp Dario "Topo" Penafiel, an alleged subordinate of the Choneros organized transgression group, successful spot upon his accomplishment astatine Aeropolicial aft being apprehended successful the Amazon, successful Guayaquil, Ecuador, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2025. Cesar Munoz / AP

Macias was recaptured successful June successful a monolithic cognition launched aft his infamous jailbreak and extradited to the United States nether President Daniel Noboa's anti-crime crackdown. Last year, Macias was indicted successful New York City connected charges helium imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the U.S.  He pleaded not guilty.

American commandos precocious joined Ecuadorian troops successful a associated ngo aimed astatine dismantling a suspected transgression hub operated by an alleged narco-terrorist enactment on the country's coast.

The operation, dubbed Lanza Marina, focused connected a compound believed to service arsenic a staging crushed for high-speed boats linked to Los Choneros, according to 2 U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News nether information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to talk publicly. 

The 2 U.S. officials said the American forces worked successful advisory roles, assisting and accompanying their Ecuadorian counterparts as they moved against the site, portion of a broader effort to curb trafficking networks that trust connected fast-moving maritime routes.

In aboriginal March, the U.S. and Ecuador launched joint subject operations against "designated violent organizations" successful the South American country.

Los Choneros is 1 of 20 criminal gangs declared violent groups by Ecuador.,  

In:

• Drug Cartels
• Cartel
• Ecuador