Back Los Choneros Spanish Los Choneros French לוס צ'ונרוס HE Ndị Choneros IG ロス・チョネロス Japanese Los Choneros Malay Los Choneros Portuguese Los Choneros Russian Los Choneros Turkish Los Choneros Ukrainian
Los Choneros | |
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founded by | Jorge Bismark Véliz España |
| Founding location | Chone, Ecuador |
| Years active | 2005−present |
| Ethnicity | Ecuadorians |
| Leader(s) | Jorge Véliz X (2005–2007) Jorge Luis Zambrano (2007–2020) X José Adolfo Macías Villamar[1] (since 2020) |
| Criminal activities | |
| Allies | Sinaloa Cartel Clan del Golfo[2] Urías Rondón Front[3] |
| Rivals |
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Los Choneros is an organized crime syndicate and drug cartel based in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, with a notable presence along much of the country's coastline. The gang is known for its involvement in organized crime, including drug trafficking, extortion, and robbery. Many of its members have been on the Ecuadorian most wanted list and its original leaders have been imprisoned or killed. Their main business is moving cocaine to the United States.
On 9 January 2024, an armed conflict in Ecuador broke out after gangleader José Villamar escaped from prison and around 30 top officials were arrested by an anti-corruption and drug trafficking operation.[4] The country's government declared a situation of inner war against several organized crime groups, most notably Los Choneros.
- ^ Mella, Carolina (13 August 2023). "Los Choneros: Fito, the gang leader who threatened to kill candidate Fernando Villavicencio, moved to maximum security prison". El País. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Fito, la mente maestra del crimen que pone en jaque a Ecuador". France24. 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Unmasking the Foreign Players on Ecuador's Criminal Chessboard". Insight Crime. 7 March 2024.
- ^ "High-ranking officials held in Ecuador drug trafficking, corruption raids". BNamericas.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.