Fito's Family Network Hit as Wife and Daughter Arrested in Colombia

Ecuadorian and Colombian authorities have made significant strides against the criminal network of former Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias "Fito," with the recent capture of his wife and daughter. The arrests took place on September 27 in Sabana de Torres, Santander, Colombia, as part of an ongoing operation targeting Fito's family members involved in money laundering activities.

Inda Mariela Peñarrieta Tuárez and Michelle Jamileth Macías Peñarrieta were apprehended by Ecuadorian and Colombian law enforcement agencies, with assistance from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The two women are accused of being central figures in a money laundering scheme known as "Blanqueo Fito," which aimed to launder illicit funds generated through arms trafficking, drug dealing, and other criminal activities.

This latest arrest comes amid an ongoing series of operations against Fito's inner circle. In May 2026, six individuals associated with the Blanqueo Fito case were convicted by an Ecuadorian court for asset laundering. Among those convicted was Verónica Briones, a romantic partner of Fito’s who played a significant role in his criminal enterprise. Additionally, one of Fito's brothers, Ronald Javier Macías Villamars, alias "Javi," was captured and expelled to Ecuador in June 2026.

The recent arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle the Choneros' influence following Fito’s recapture and extradition to the United States in late 2025. The group has struggled to maintain its power within Ecuador's increasingly fragmented criminal landscape, with the loss of key figures exacerbating internal instability.

In a separate development, Chilean police reported on September 28 that they had dismantled what is believed to be the first cell of Brazil’s First Capital Command (PCC) in the country. The operation resulted in the detention of 20 individuals suspected of being part of this foreign criminal organization's expansion into Chile.

Meanwhile, Colombia has extradited Geovany Andrés Rojas, alias "Araña," leader of a FARC dissident group known as the Border Command (Comandos de la Frontera), to the United States on September 25. Araña faces charges related to cocaine trafficking and "narco-terrorism." His extradition marks the formal end of Colombia's Total Peace negotiations, signaling a shift in the country’s approach to dealing with former guerrilla groups that have turned to crime.

These developments underscore the complex nature of international criminal networks and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in combating them. The coordinated efforts between Ecuadorian, Colombian, and US authorities demonstrate a collaborative approach aimed at disrupting major criminal operations across national borders.