‘Fito’s’ extradition to the U.S. clears final hurdle

National Court of Justice President José Suing signed off Thursday on the government’s extradition request to send José Adolfo Macías, alias ‘Fito’, to the United States. Although President Daniel Noboa will make the final decision, the president said earlier he supports extradition.

Adolfo Macías, alias ‘Fito’, following his June 25 capture.

Macías said last week he does not oppose extradition, his attorney explaining that his client feels his life is in danger in the Ecuadorian prison system.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department sent Suing the necessary guarantees to continue with the extradition process. The U.S. agreed not to impose the death penalty or subject Macías to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It also guaranteed that Macías will have a fair trial and access to a defense lawyer.

Under Ecuadorian law, a criminal suspect cannot be extradited without a commitment from the receiving country that it will not impose the death penalty. The U.S. Justice Department said the crimes Macías is accused of in the U.S. do not warrant execution.

Macías was captured June 25 in Manta following his escape from a Guayaquil prison in January 2024 where he was serving a 34-year sentence for murder, organized crime and smuggling. Since his capture, he has been held in the maximum security La Roca prison, also in Guayaquil.

Once he is flown to the U.S., Macias will be transferred to a prison in the Eastern District Court of New York, where he faces seven charges related to drug and arms trafficking. If he decides to plead guilty and cooperate with authorities, he could negotiate a lesser sentence. If he goes to trial he risks life imprisonment.