The United States government has announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Francisco Manuel Bermúdez Cagua, a high-ranking member of the Ecuadorian gang Los Choneros, which the State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization last September.
The 29-year-old fugitive, known by the alias “Churron,” faces serious federal charges including international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution, and using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. These charges stem from a superseding indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York and unsealed in June of last year.
The reward announcement came Thursday from the State Department’s Narcotics Reward Program, underscoring the administration’s intensified focus on transnational criminal organizations that threaten American communities. President Trump, addressing reporters at the White House, emphasized his administration’s uncompromising stance against drug traffickers, stating his intention to eliminate those responsible for bringing narcotics into the United States.
According to federal prosecutors, Los Choneros operates as an extremely violent organization responsible for trafficking both drugs and weapons into American territory while conducting brutal acts of violence in their home country of Ecuador. The gang’s activities have drawn significant attention from U.S. law enforcement agencies working to dismantle international drug trafficking networks.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. of the Eastern District of New York characterized Bermúdez Cagua as a top lieutenant within Los Choneros’ leadership structure. He emphasized that the substantial reward reflects the government’s determination to bring the organization’s leaders to justice in American courts and ultimately dismantle such criminal enterprises.
The case against Bermúdez Cagua involves multiple alleged co-conspirators. José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as “Fito,” age 46, was extradited to New York in July 2025. The Ecuadorian citizen faces similar international drug trafficking and firearms charges. Another alleged co-conspirator, Darío Javier Peñafiel Nieto, called “Topo,” age 35, remains in custody in Ecuador.
Chris Landberg of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs reinforced the government’s comprehensive approach to combating drug trafficking. He stated that authorities would employ every available resource to stop criminals trafficking deadly drugs into American communities.
The designation of Los Choneros as a foreign terrorist organization represents a significant escalation in how the United States addresses transnational criminal gangs. This classification provides federal authorities with additional tools and resources to pursue the organization’s members and disrupt their operations.
The administration’s aggressive posture toward drug trafficking organizations extends beyond Ecuador. Recent statements have indicated potential operations in other South American nations where criminal organizations pose threats to American security interests.
This reward program has historically proven effective in capturing high-value targets. The State Department maintains that information from the public, both domestically and internationally, often proves crucial in locating fugitives and bringing them to justice.
As this case proceeds, it demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to pursuing drug trafficking organizations across international borders and holding their leaders accountable in American courts.
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