Colombia confirms capture of Ecuadorian drug trafficker known as 'Javi', brother of 'Fito'

Bogotá, June 17 (EFE).- Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez Suárez confirmed on Wednesday the capture of Ronald Javier Macías Villamar, alias Javi, considered one of the main leaders of the Ecuadorian criminal gang Los Choneros and the brother of José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias Fito, the top leader of that organization.

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STATEMENTS BY PEDRO SÁNCHEZ, COLOMBIA'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE.

TRANSLATION:

Last night, we captured alias Javi, a dangerous criminal and successor to alias Fito. He is the brother of alias Fito, the criminal who was extradited to the United States last year and who had been trying to hide here to continue his criminal activities.

We are carrying out operations throughout the border region, focusing on key and high-priority areas. This is a priority for us. That is why we have 15,000 troops deployed there, along with aircraft, platoons, armored vehicles, and boats, not only to control the sea but also the rivers.

The message is clear: when we work together, criminals lose. As a result, homicide rates have declined in the border departments and provinces of both countries.