Top Lieutenant of Infamous Drug Syndicate Set for Extradition from Ecuador to U.S.

Ecuador's highest judicial authority has sanctioned the extradition of Dario Penafiel, a prominent lieutenant within the notorious Los Choneros gang, to the United States.

Known by the alias "Topo," Penafiel was apprehended in September while allegedly orchestrating illegal mineral extraction activities in the Amazon region of Ecuador.

Authorities have linked Topo to a splinter group of Colombia's FARC guerrillas, and he is wanted by a New York court for serious drug trafficking charges.

The Ecuadorian federal court confirmed that Penafiel's extradition was approved so he could face trial for extensive drug trafficking offenses and illegal firearm possession.

Previously incarcerated for kidnapping and conspiracy, Penafiel was released after serving part of his sentence. A murder charge related to a police officer was dismissed against him.

Reports indicate that while imprisoned in Guayaquil, a key drug export center, Penafiel formed a close alliance with Adolfo Macias, also known as "Fito." Following his release, he became involved in illegal gold mining operations under Macias's direction.

Macias was recaptured in June during a large-scale operation following his notorious escape and has since been extradited to the U.S. as part of President Daniel Noboa's intensified anti-crime measures. He faces serious charges in New York for allegedly importing vast quantities of cocaine into the country, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

In a recent collaborative effort, American commandos joined forces with Ecuadorian military personnel to target a suspected criminal base linked to a narco-terrorist organization along Ecuador's coastline.

This operation, named Lanza Marina, aimed at dismantling a facility believed to be a launch point for high-speed vessels associated with Los Choneros, according to two U.S. officials who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operation.

The American forces played advisory roles, supporting their Ecuadorian counterparts as they executed the mission, part of a larger strategy to disrupt trafficking networks utilizing rapid maritime routes.

Earlier this year, joint military initiatives were initiated by the U.S. and Ecuador targeting designated terrorist organizations operating within the South American nation.

Los Choneros stands among 20 criminal gangs classified as terrorist entities by Ecuadorian authorities.