Offering million dollar loans online and on trips around Paris. This is how Michelle Jamilet Macías Peñarrieta, daughter of José Adolfo Macías, alias Fito, the powerful leader of the drug trafficking structure ‘Los Choneros’ in Ecuador, appeared on social networks before being captured in a house in Sabana de Torres (Santander).
The young woman was captured this Sunday, September 27, along with her mother, Inda Mariela Peñarrieta Tuárez, in an operation by the Dijín of the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office, the Army and the FBI for his role in the so-called ‘Fito Laundering Case’. The Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO reveals how they entered the country and the cities through which they moved.
READ ALSO
The fake ID
The false ID with which the wife and daughter of alias Fito moved. Photo:Private file
According to the Ecuadorian authorities, both women would be involved in directing operations aimed at laundering assets of the criminal organization ‘Los Choneros’, through the use of paper companies and fictitious corporate structures.
After José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias Fito, was captured in an underground bunker in Montecristi, near Manta (Ecuador) in June 2025 and extradited to the United States, where he faces charges for drug trafficking, several of his relatives began to move to Colombia.
In fact, Ronald Javier Macías Villamar, alias Javi, brother of ‘Fito’ and who was considered the heir of the criminal empire of ‘Los Choneros’, was captured on June 16 in a building that offers short-term rentals to foreigners and/or tourists in Bogotá.
And a Dijín investigator who works in collaboration with the FBI and who participated in the operation to capture ‘Fito’s wife and daughter. He explained to EL TIEMPO how they entered Colombia: ““They arrived in the country about six months ago, they entered Venezuela on foot and moved through Cali, Medellín, Bogotá and Bucaramanga.”
And he added: “They stayed in hotels or short-term residences. They never went out at the same time so as not to attract attention and they avoided going out during the day. “They took turns taking a Colombian ID card, the authenticity of which we are verifying.”
The Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO established that the name The identity document they used to camouflage themselves is Paola Zapata Ruiz.
In fact, the Dijín investigator explained that the last movement of the women before being detained was from Bucaramanga to Sabana de Torres: “In the property we found communication radios, cell phones, 27 million pesos in cash and 2,500 dollars. It is still being verified if they bought something in Colombia.”
The Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO tracked several companies where ‘Fito’s wife appears.
READ ALSO
The network companies
The daughter alias Fito shared photographs riding horses on social networks. Photo:Social networks
“The wife of ‘Fito’, in her capacity as manager and majority shareholder of Queen water SA and Transporte de Carga Pesada Jomavi SA, “He is charged with the administration, possession and concealment of movable and immovable assets of the patrimonial scheme (farms, land, commercial premises and companies)”, another researcher told EL TIEMPO.
Queenwater SA is dedicated to the marketing of bottled water, It was reactivated in 2024 and presented income of more than $200,000 for that year.
The company was the subject of a raid in June 2025 along with 3 other companies linked to the network in an operation led by agents of the Money Laundering Unit of the Ecuadorian Police, who seized 47 properties, including houses and lots, 10 vehicles and two motorcycles linked to the environment of alias Fito.
And Heavy Cargo Transport Jomavi SA They attribute to him the concealment of properties between farms, land and commercial premises linked to the criminal activities of ‘Fito’.
According to documents held by the Investigative Unit of EL TIEMPO, The woman was general manager of the company in 2018, but the firm is currently in liquidation.
READ ALSO
Credit and finances
The daughter of alias Fito published videos of briefcases full of dollars on her social networks. Photo:Social networks
Michelle Jamilet Macías, Fito’s daughter, posed on social networks with high-end vehicles and published videos of briefcases with dollars or money counting machines.
“The unusual and unjustified income of $435,904 is attributed to the Ecuadorian financial system, during the period 2020 – 2024, which could not be justified with its declared economic activity of selling clothing, accessories and perfumes.”a researcher told this newspaper.
In addition, she appears as the beneficiary and owner of real estate assets belonging to alias Fito, including rights over a rural property of approximately 76 hectares in the Pichincha Canton.
Now, authorities in Colombia They verify if the women also acquired properties in the country using the Colombian ID that they took turns leaving without being detected.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
u.investigativa@eltiempo.com
@UinvestigativaET
Follow us now on Facebook
