Ecuador Captures Notorious Gang Leader Fito, Among Country’s Most Wanted

Ecuadorian authorities confirmed today the arrest of José “Fito” Patricio, one of the country’s most-wanted criminal figures and alleged leader of a powerful transnational gang.

Patricio was detained during a coordinated police operation in the industrial port city of Guayaquil. Security forces surrounded a residential estate where he had been hiding before moving in and taking him into custody without resistance, according to an official statement.

He had evaded capture for years, following accusations of orchestrating kidnappings, drug trafficking, and fuel smuggling across the Ecuador–Colombia border. At the time of his arrest, Patricio was subject to multiple arrest warrants, including charges tied to a prison riot that claimed several lives last year.

Authorities reported that Patricio attempted to disguise himself to evade arrest, but visible tattoos and identity documents recovered during the raid confirmed his identity. He is being held in a maximum-security penitentiary in Guayaquil, where he is expected to appear in court shortly to face long-list charges.

The operation has been hailed by Ecuador’s government as a major blow to organized crime networks within national territory. Authorities insist the arrest will significantly disrupt gang influence, especially in the southwestern province of El Oro, and will reduce drug-trafficking lanes and kidnapping incidents.

President Daniel Álvarez praised security forces for the arrest and vowed a sustained push against organized crime.

“This is a decisive step in our commitment to public safety,” said Álvarez, calling the capture “a victory for the rule of law.” Plans are underway for follow-up operations against Patricio’s known associates, with authorities promising transparency and coordination with international partners.

Local residents in Guayaquil expressed cautious optimism, hopeful the capture will translate into safer neighborhoods. However, some analysts remain wary, noting that Patricio’s network could quickly adapt unless broader reforms bolster policing and social programs in vulnerable communities.

With input from Al Jazeera