Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive found hiding under kitchen counter after a year on the run

Ecuador's most-wanted fugitive has been recaptured - much than a twelvemonth aft helium escaped from a maximum-security prison.

Jose Adolfo Macias, besides known arsenic "Fito", led a pack called Los Choneros and was discovered successful his hometown of Manta pursuing a 10-hour operation.

Footage from the Ecuadorian service showed a uniformed serviceman aiming a weapon astatine the cause trafficker's caput aft uncovering him hiding successful a tiny spread beneath a room counter.

"Fito" has an extended transgression grounds including charges of execution and organised crime, and helium was sentenced to 34 years down bars successful 2011.

Officials are yet to explicate however helium escaped - and lone realised helium was missing erstwhile the subject arrived to transportation him to different situation and recovered his compartment empty.

A 60-day authorities of exigency was declared, with hooded gunmen bursting onto the acceptable of a unrecorded tv studio and declaring they had bombs.

Interpol rapidly issued an apprehension warrant for Macias, who is owed to look planetary cause and weapon charges astatine a tribunal successful New York.

He has been accused of distributing cocaine astir the world, and smuggling firearms and ammunition from the US into Ecuador with the assistance of Mexican cartels.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa confirmed the state has already requested his extradition to the US - and vowed that much notorious pack members "will fall".

Read much satellite news:
Man connected decease enactment for astir 50 years executed
Director of adjacent James Bond movie announced

"Fito" had cult presumption among the nationalist and was known for throwing parties successful prison, wherever helium had entree to intoxicant and roosters for cockfighting matches.

In 2023, helium released a video addressed to the Ecuadorian radical portion down bars - and was flanked by equipped men.

The US classified Los Choneros arsenic 1 of the world's astir convulsive gangs past year, portion Ecuador has described it arsenic a violent organisation.

His seizure comes weeks aft the authorities announced that the reward for his seizure was going to beryllium accrued to $1m (£729,000).