In Quito, a tense pursuit unfolds as government officials monitor the return of a wife and children who have been separated from their family. The man at the center is José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as Fito, a figure linked to the Choneros drug trafficking network. They previously lived in a luxury enclave in Argentina’s Córdoba province, where authorities eventually detained them. Fito had become a flashpoint days before a security crisis that followed his escape from a Guayaquil prison. Ecuadorian authorities suspect he may have slipped across borders to Colombia, and the minister in charge, Gustavo Peter, stated that any capture would immediately result in extradition. [Source: Ecuadorian security agencies]
Meanwhile, 48-year-old Inda Mariela Peñarrieta Tuárez and her three children were placed under arrest. Reports cited by a popular outlet indicate that the far-right administration moved swiftly to expel them. The family traveled to Córdoba, roughly 600 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, arriving on January 5, two days before Fito physically escaped from prison. It was reported that the drug lord’s nephew and a babysitter also resided at the exclusive Golf Club residence during those days. [Source: local press]
Argentine authorities had been warned, with Ecuadorian police signaling that the Choneros leader might attempt to enter the country. In response, local law enforcement began coordinated efforts with the Ecuadorian prosecutor’s office, focusing on locating relatives tied to the suspects and monitoring possible movements. [Source: regional law enforcement coordination]
The Choneros network expanded its capacity over several years, aided by an alliance with the Mexican cartel known as Sinaloa. At the time of his escape, Fito was serving a 34-year sentence. His departure from custody set off a chain reaction of violence across other prison units, prompting President Daniel Noboa to emphasize the seriousness of the situation and to call the armed forces to prioritize the fight against the roughly 22 gangs operating in the country, many of which are designated as terrorist organizations. [Source: government statements and court records]
Pablo Escobar’s widow
The episode surrounding Fito’s wife invoked memories of Argentina’s past, when Pablo Escobar Gaviria’s widow, Maria Victoria Henao, and her son were seen in the capital city almost thirty years ago. The former couple recalled a late-night move into the heart of Buenos Aires. They described a scene of a hotel stay that felt deserted and tense, prompting a decision to leave rather than risk jeopardizing their safety. Their account appears in a memoir describing life with Pablo Escobar and the experiences around that era. [Source: memoir excerpts and contemporary reporting]
In Argentina, Maria Victoria adopted the alias Isabel Santos, and her son Juan Pablo adopted the name Juan Sebastián Marroquín. In 2017, a civil lawsuit alleging money laundering was filed against them, though the case has not reached a final resolution. The ongoing legal saga highlights how former criminal associations continue to intersect with legitimate society in South America, shaping public perception and policy. [Source: legal filings and interviews]