Men disguised as police kill Ecuadorean drug lord's brother
David Macías, a regional leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, was killed by gunmen disguised as police officers in Ecuador. The incident marks another violent episode in the country's ongoing struggle with organized crime and internal gang power struggles.
Why it matters
The assassination highlights the persistent instability and influence of drug cartels in Ecuador, which continue to challenge state authority and public safety.
A brother of Ecuador's most notorious drug lord was killed on Sunday by gunmen who had disguised themselves as police officers.
Police said David Macías, 35, was a regional leader in Los Choneros, the powerful criminal gang which was until recently headed by his brother, Adolfo.
Adolfo Macías, also known by the alias "Fito", is awaiting trial in the United States following his extradition from Ecuador last year.
Los Choneros has been declared a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the US and is accused of being one of the crime groups behind Ecuador's skyrocketing murder rate.
Officials said David Macías was killed in the early hours of Sunday local time.
Witnesses said men dressed like police officers entered the home Macías had rented in an upscale neighbourhood in the town of Olón, on Ecuador's Pacific coast.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in