Support TIME. Preserve the truth.
World

Ecuador jails suspected assassin of presidential candidate

The Ecuadorian police and army have transferred to a high-security prison the leader of the criminal group that is suspected of having organized the assassination of the presidential candidate in Ecuador.

More than 4 thousand members of the security forces are engaged in the transfer of Jose Adolfo Macia, who is believed to be the leader of the criminal group "Los Choneros".

Macias has recently been charged with the murder of Fernando Villavincencio. Authorities in Ecuador have said the so-called Fito group had ties to Mexico's notorious Sinaloa cartel.

Fito has been transferred to La Roca high security prison.

The presidential candidate was killed on Wednesday after the end of the election rally in the capital Quito.

His murder has warned that Ecuador has plunged into the world of organized crime and that the next president of the country will have big problems.