Los Choneros

FTOForeign Terrorist Organization // Designated Sep 5, 2025 // U.S. State Dept.

Profile Overview //

Threat Tier

Tier 3 - Regional / Mid-Tier

Volatility Index

VI-4 - Unstable

Organization Type

Prison-Origin Gang

Operational Status

Degraded

Designation Status

US FTO and SDGT

FTO Designation

Yes Sep 5, 2025

Designation Detail

CONFIRMED: The Secretary of State announced the designation of Los Choneros as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist on September 4, 2025, effective September 5, 2025. The designation is a U.S. policy action and does not by itself establish a link to a terrorist group.

Area of Operation

South America, Northern Mexico, Central America

Specific AOR

REPORTED: Ecuador, with links to Mexican cartels. REPORTED: A Treasury-sanctioned shipping network used fishing vessels based near Manta, Ecuador.

Force Strength

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced figure.

Leadership

CONFIRMED: Leader José Adolfo "Fito" Macías was extradited from Ecuador to the United States in July 2025, the first Ecuadorian citizen extradited from Ecuador to face U.S. justice (State Department). DATA DEFICIT: current leadership.

Headquarters

Manta, Manabí, Ecuador (approximate map marker)

Coordinates

-0.9677, -80.7089

Operational Monikers

Los Choneros, Choneros

Last Verified

2026-11-12

Operational Brief //

CommandEleven Intelligence Desk // Transnational Organized Crime Desk, status as of November 12, 2026

Bottom Line Up Front. Los Choneros is an Ecuadorian criminal organization that the U.S. State Department designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization effective September 5, 2025. Its leader, José Adolfo "Fito" Macías, was extradited from Ecuador to the United States in July 2025. The State Department says it is linked to the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG, and U.S. Treasury sanctions in August 2026 targeted a related cocaine shipping network. We assess that the group is weakened by its leader's removal and by the split that created Los Lobos, but remains a major Ecuadorian trafficking actor.

What We Could Not Source. Current leadership, membership and the group's command structure after Fito Macías. Our sources name no replacement.

History, Goals and Doctrine //

Operational History

REPORTED: Los Lobos split from Los Choneros (Treasury). CONFIRMED: The State Department says the group attacked and threatened Ecuadorian officials, security personnel, judges, prosecutors and journalists to control drug routes. CONFIRMED: Designated on September 4, 2025, effective September 5, 2025.

Operational Goals

ASSESSED: Control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador by intimidation and violence (State Department).

Ideology

None. Profit-driven criminal enterprise.

Org Doctrine

Prison-rooted gang that controls trafficking routes through intimidation.

Regional Command

DATA DEFICIT: Not publicly mapped.

Operational Signature

Attacks and threats against officials, judges, prosecutors and journalists; cocaine trafficking; ties to Mexican cartels.

Flashpoint

REPORTED: August 20, 2026 Treasury action: 15 Ecuador-based targets designated and 10 vessels blocked in a network smuggling cocaine toward Mexico; the network allegedly moved roughly 30 to 40 tons per month through one coordinator.

Primary Adversaries

Los Lobos (split rival); Ecuadorian security forces; U.S. authorities.

Terror Group Links //

Link Nature

Logistical / Smuggling

Evidence Tier

DATA DEFICIT

Link Evidence

DATA DEFICIT: The State Department links the group to the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, which are criminal partners, not terrorist groups. We found no sourced link to a terrorist group.

Capabilities and Finance //

Weaponry Focus

Small Arms (Pistols/Rifles)

Technology Profile

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced assessment. We do not publish technical specifics.

Financial Vectors

Narcotics TraffickingProtection Money / Extortion

Spatial Profile

Ecuador's coast, ports and prisons.

Cyber Assessment

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Governance and Control //

Territorial Controllers

DATA DEFICIT: Plaza-level controllers are not publicly mapped.

Administrative Responsibility

ASSESSED: Trafficking route control.

Administrative HQ

DATA DEFICIT: Not publicly confirmed.

Command Table

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Court Registry

CONFIRMED: Fito Macías extradited to the United States in July 2025.

Disruption Vector Matrix //

Logistical Vulnerability

Dependence on coastal vessel networks and subsidized fuel.

Logistic Strategy

Fishing-fleet and fuel-subsidy enforcement.

Financial Vulnerability

Front companies in fishing and construction (REPORTED by Treasury).

Financial Strategy

Treasury designations and asset blocking.

Leadership Vulnerability

The leader is in U.S. custody.

Leadership Strategy

Pursue remaining senior figures.

Disruption Strategy

Vessel and fuel-subsidy enforcement against fishing-boat transfer networks; Treasury targeting; extradition.

Threat Matrix //

Operational Threat

3 - Medium (Regional Network)

ASSESSED: Moderate and regional.

Kinetic Capability

3 - Medium (IED/Targeted Assassinations)

ASSESSED: Moderate. Capable of attacks on officials, per the State Department.

Logistical Resilience

3 - Medium (Localized Taxation/Smuggling Links)

ASSESSED: Moderate.

Information Influence

2 - Low (Localized Printed/Audio Leaflets)

ASSESSED: Low.

Analytical Note //

Analytical Note

ASSESSED: The leader’s removal and the Los Lobos split have reduced the group’s cohesion. Watch for leadership consolidation and further Treasury action.