Wife and daughter of Ecuadorian drug trafficker "Fito" captured in Colombia
Inda Peñarrieta and Michelle Macías were detained in Sabana de Torres, Santander, under an Interpol red notice for money laundering exceeding 15 million euros.
Detention in Colombia of relatives of Los Choneros leader
The wife and a daughter of Adolfo Macías—alias "Fito", former leader of the Ecuadorian armed group Los Choneros—were captured on Sunday, 27 September in Sabana de Torres, department of Santander. According to El Deber, citing RFI's correspondent in Quito, Éric Samson, Inda Peñarrieta and Michelle Macías were subject to a "red notice" from Interpol issued at the request of the Ecuadorian police.
The two women are suspected of money laundering and asset laundering totalling more than 15 million euros from the criminal activities of Macías, who is currently detained in the United States.
Investigation reopened in Ecuador
Following the capture, the Ecuadorian public prosecutor's office announced the reopening of the investigation called "Fito's money laundering". Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, confirmed that both women will be tried for money laundering for the benefit of Los Choneros, and specified that this money "buys weapons, pays hitmen and finances extortion".
Peñarrieta and Macías will be held in the "El Rocío" prison in Guayaquil, a maximum-security facility intended for the most wanted women in the country.
Trilateral cooperation with FBI support
The operation was carried out with the support of the FBI and represents, according to the authorities involved, a new demonstration of collaboration between Washington, Bogotá and Quito in the fight against transnational drug trafficking.
Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the handover of the detainees through his account on X: "The Ecuadorian authorities are investigating them for the use of shell companies to launder money from the organisation. I will send them with pleasure to my good friend, President Daniel Noboa, so that they can answer to Ecuadorian justice". De La Espriella added that the operation involved the Colombian National Police, the Army and the public prosecutor's office, along with the FBI and the authorities of Ecuador, and emphasised: "Colombia will not be a refuge for the finances of transnational crime".
Los Choneros and cocaine transit through Ecuador
Los Choneros are considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and maintain links with the Mexican Sinaloa cartel. Approximately 70 per cent of the cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru transits through Ecuador, a country that in recent years has recorded a sharp increase in violence linked to organised crime.
Source: El Deber