Trump Administration Designates Ecuadorian Gang as Foreign Terrorist Organization
On Wednesday, the Trump administration added an Ecuadorian gang to its list of foreign terrorist organizations, marking a notable expansion of its efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, now totaling 21 designated groups.
The State Department specifically named Los Tiguerones as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This group is based in Ecuador and is reputedly involved in drug trafficking and various illegal activities, alongside a recent history of attacks on civilians, law enforcement, and even journalists—one of which notably included a live takeover of an Ecuadorian television station in 2024.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the administration’s commitment to preventing illicit drugs from reaching U.S. streets and disrupting the financial pipelines that support violent narcoterrorism. He stated, “The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation.”
This designation is part of a broader strategy that aims to increase pressure on criminal networks, especially those implicated in narcotics trafficking. Rubio, currently on a diplomatic tour across South America which includes visits to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, noted that these measures serve to dismantle such organizations while ensuring the safety of American citizens.
The formal categorization as a terrorist group was traditionally reserved for entities like ISIS and al-Qaida—groups that engage in violence for political gain rather than purely financial profit. By extending this label to Los Tiguerones and similar organizations, the administration appears to be reorienting its approach to drug cartels and related entities. This shift intends to heighten scrutiny over such groups, and, potentially, to impose legal repercussions on those who support them.
Rubio pointed out that these designations can effectively expose and isolate the targeted groups, cutting off their access to the U.S. financial system, which they rely on to perpetrate their activities. It’s an interesting tactic, one that has prompted other Latin American nations, like Guatemala and Argentina, to follow suit by taking steps against various criminal organizations.
This strategy has been in motion since February 2025. It notably led to the U.S. government successfully capturing former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier in the year, as well as conducting military actions against vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.
Interestingly, Mexico holds the record with eight groups recognized as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. The Mexican government is under significant pressure to prevent unilateral actions from the U.S. aimed at dealing with cartels operating within its borders.
However, contradictions also surface in Trump’s approach; notably, he extended a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had received a lengthy prison sentence for drug trafficking and was accused of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel during his trial. Hernández is reported to have since returned to Honduras.
