Colombian police arrested the wife and daughter of Adolfo Macias, a leader of the Los Choneros criminal organization, in northeastern Colombia on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. Inda Mariela Penarrieta Tuarez and Michelle Jamileth Macias Penarrieta are wanted in Ecuador on money laundering charges. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed the arrests, noting the operation involved the FBI and Ecuadorian authorities.
Adolfo Macias, known as "Fito," led Los Choneros, an Ecuadorian gang linked to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Macias was serving a 34-year sentence for murder, drug trafficking, and organized crime until he was found missing from his cell in early 2024. Following his escape, Ecuador declared a 60-day state of emergency. Macias was eventually recaptured and extradited to the United States last year.
Ecuadorian investigators allege the two women used shell companies to launder money for Los Choneros. President De la Espriella stated on social media that he intends to send the women to Ecuador to face justice. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa acknowledged the cooperation between the two nations. In a separate action last September, Ecuadorian authorities arrested Dario Penafiel, a suspected lieutenant for the gang, in the Amazon region.
The arrests affect the immediate family and alleged financial network of the leadership of Los Choneros, a group designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and Ecuador. The operation involves two national governments and the FBI following the extradition of Adolfo Macias to the U.S. last year. Macias currently faces seven federal charges, including drug and arms trafficking, which carry potential sentences ranging from 20 years to life in prison.
The legal proceedings in Ecuador involve allegations of money laundering through shell companies. The scale of the alleged laundering operation in terms of specific dollar amounts was not reported. The U.S. designated Los Choneros as a terrorist entity in 2025, and the group is among 20 criminal organizations Ecuador classifies as terrorist threats. Ecuador has transitioned into a cocaine transit hub between Colombia, Peru, and global markets.
What happens next depends on the formal transfer process between Colombia and Ecuador. President De la Espriella indicated the women would be sent to face Ecuadorian justice, though a specific date for their transfer or their first court appearance has not been reported. Meanwhile, Adolfo Macias has pleaded not guilty to his U.S. charges and remains in custody. Further legal actions against other gang affiliates, such as Dario Penafiel, continue following his arrest for suspected coordination of illegal mineral extraction.