Police‑Lookalike Gunmen Shoot Ecuador Drug‑Lord’s Brother

Sun Sep 06 2026 15:16:45 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a covert shoot‑out, men posing as police open fire on the brother of Ecuador’s notorious drug kingpin, sending shockwaves through the country’s underworld.

Police lookalikes opened fire on David Macías, the brother of drug lord Adolfo Macías, in an upscale coastal town. The hit took place early Sunday, leaving Macías dead and the gunmen to flee. Los Choneros, the cartel that once dominated the region, has been declared a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States. Despite the drama, no suspects have been arrested, leaving authorities hunting for the culprits.

David Macías – the 35‑year‑old brother of infamous drug kingpin Adolfo Macías – was shot dead after men who looked like police officers entered his rented home in Olón, a posh coastal suburb of Ecuador.

The gunmen fired a barrage of bullets before escaping, and so far no arrests have been made. Police confirmed Macías was also a regional leader for Los Choneros, the criminal gang that was recently led by his brother.

Los Choneros has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the United States and is blamed for Ecuador’s surge in murders. Adolfo Macías, known as “Fito”, is facing trial in the U.S. after being extradited from Ecuador last year.

The incident reflects the ongoing violence within drug cartels, which sometimes hit rivals or members of the same gang in power struggles. Earlier this month, a gang leader in Guayaquil was shot by teenage gunmen who concealed weapons behind toys and flowers.

David Macías pleaded guilty in 2018 to criminal conspiracy.
He allegedly recruited inmates for Los Choneros while in prison.
His killing marks a blow to the cartel after previous arrests of Adolfo and another brother, Javier, in Colombia.