ECUADOR'S AMAZON — Ecuador's top court approved the extradition of Dario Penafiel, known as "Topo," to the United States to face charges of large-scale drug trafficking and the use of firearms. The court authorized the transfer so Penafiel could be tried in a New York court that had sought his surrender.

Penafiel was arrested in September in Ecuador's Amazon, where he is believed to have been coordinating illegal mineral extraction. Authorities said he had ties to a dissident faction of Colombia's FARC guerrillas.

Penafiel had previously been imprisoned in Ecuador for kidnapping and criminal conspiracy and was released after serving a partial sentence. A separate case against him alleging the murder of a police officer was dismissed.

According to local media, Penafiel met Adolfo Macias, alias "Fito," in a prison in Guayaquil. After his release, Penafiel became Macias's right-hand man and worked for him in illegal gold extraction.

Macias was recaptured in June in an operation launched after his jailbreak and was later extradited to the United States under President Daniel Noboa's anti-crime crackdown. Last year, Macias was indicted in New York City on charges that he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In early March, the U.S. and Ecuador launched joint military operations against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador. Los Choneros is one of 20 criminal gangs declared a terrorist group by Ecuador. Penafiel's extradition comes as Ecuadorian authorities have pursued a series of actions against criminal organizations operating within the country's borders.