US Designates Colombian Criminal Group as Terrorist Organization
The U.S. State Department announced on Tuesday that it will officially classify Cran del Golfo, one of Colombia’s largest illegal armed groups, as a terrorist organization.
This decision marks a significant move by the U.S. government to intensify its counter-narcotics and security efforts near the Colombia-Venezuela border. Tensions have notably escalated in the area following President Donald Trump’s assertion that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is enabling drug trafficking-related crimes.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that Cran del Golfo has been involved in numerous terrorist incidents, most of which have been financed through drug trafficking.
“Today, we have designated Cran del Golfo as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” Rubio said.
Cran del Golfo, which has its base in Colombia, is described as a violent and influential criminal entity with thousands of members. Its primary income source is cocaine trafficking, which supports its violent operations. The group has been linked to attacks on government officials, law enforcement, military personnel, and everyday civilians in Colombia.
Rubio further stated, “The United States will continue to leverage all available tools to safeguard our nation and combat the violence and terrorism linked to international cartels and transnational criminal organizations. We are dedicated to obstructing funding and resources for these terrorists.”
This designation emphasizes the group’s potential threat to U.S. national security and may lead to penalties against individuals or organizations linked to its activities.
In recent months, the Trump administration has executed numerous operations against vessels suspected of drug smuggling. This initiative aims to dismantle narco-terrorist networks, including the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Torren de Aragua in Venezuela and Ejercito de Liberación Nacional in Colombia.
