After a year on the run following a sensational prison escape, Ecuador's most wanted fugitive, Fito, was recaptured by cops - with the help of his three-year-old daughter.
The ruthless gang leader's prison break triggered a wave of violence in the country, but now, he faces extradition to the US to face multiple felony charges.
His arrest came after his own daughter accidentally revealed his location, giving cops a chance to swoop in.
Before his escape in January 2024, he had been held in prison, where he was serving a 34-year sentence for organised crime, drug trafficking, and murder.
Real named Jose Adolfo Macias Vilamir, Fito has also been charged in absentia by American prosecutors with seven counts of cocaine distribution, conspiracy and firearms-related crimes, including weapons smuggling.
His breakout from an Ecuadorian prison resulted in a drastic surge of gang-related violence that lasted several days and left 20 people dead.
The country's president, Daniel Noboa, declared a 60-day state of emergency in multiple provinces following the violence.
Despite a months-long manhunt, he evaded capture until the president revealed on Wednesday that he had finally been apprehended.
Fito, Ecuador's most notorious fugitive was recaptured a year after breaking out of prison
He was found hiding under a trapdoor of a luxurious home in Manta, his hometown
His arrest came after his own daughter accidentally revealed his location
He was discovered hiding in a kitchen bunker in Manta, his hometown.
According to local media, officers stormed a luxury home and lifted a trap door to reveal his hiding spot.
Ecuador has seen a huge increase in gang related crimes in recent years.
As the leader of the Los Choneros gang, Fito was responsible for some of the gang's most gruesome antics.
After he escaped from prison, Fito also became a suspect in the assasination of Fernando Villavicencio, a presidential hopeful who ran as an anti-corruption crusader.
His jailbreak led to prison riots where four officers were taken hostage.
Additionally, masked armed men stormed a television station during a live broadcast.
According to US prosecutors, Fito's gang has close ties with Mexico's Sinola cartel and the two worked to control drug trafficking routes between South America and the US.
Fito was serving a 34-year sentence for organised crime, drug trafficking, and murder before his escape
The home in which he was arrested has a swimming pool, gym, and other luxurious amenities
Fito's prison break sparked riots in several prisons across the country
Officials in the States congratulated Ecuador on X for Fito's capture.
A $1million cash prize was set aside for information that could lead to his arrest.
President Noboa now says he is waiting for the US to make contact with him about Fito's extradition.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison