Local resident killed in ambush by armed attackers posing as police
Men disguised as police kill Ecuadorean – A man linked to Ecuador’s drug trade was fatally shot by gunmen disguised as law enforcement officers on Sunday. The victim, David Macías, 35, is the sibling of Adolfo Macías, the country’s most prominent drug lord, known by the nickname “Fito.” According to authorities, David served as a regional commander in Los Choneros, a criminal network previously led by his brother. The gang has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States and is associated with Ecuador’s alarming rise in violent crime.
Attack in upscale coastal town
David Macías was killed in his rented residence in Olón, a affluent area on Ecuador’s Pacific coast. Witnesses reported that men dressed in police uniforms stormed the home, leaving no survivors. The attackers fled the scene before dawn, and no arrests have been made so far. This incident marks another significant setback for Los Choneros, following the arrest of Adolfo Macías last year and his brother Javier in Colombia last month.
“Gang leaders are often targeted either by rival groups or internal rivals during power struggles,” said a police official. “This is a common tactic in the criminal underworld.”
David had previously pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges of criminal conspiracy. While incarcerated, he allegedly organized inmates within Los Choneros and established dominance over the prison facility. His murder underscores the ongoing conflict within the gang, which has already suffered major losses in recent months.
Strategic use of disguise in attacks
The ambush in Olón mirrors a similar attack last month at Guayaquil’s international airport, where a gang leader was killed by two teenagers. The killers concealed their weapons behind stuffed toys and floral arrangements to avoid detection. Such tactics highlight the gang’s efforts to evade capture and maintain operational secrecy.
Ecuador has deployed 75,000 troops and police officers to tackle drug-related violence, with significant success in apprehending high-profile figures. The recent capture of Adolfo Macías, the country’s most wanted drug lord, in an underground bunker signals a major turning point in the fight against organized crime.
