U.S. designates Ecuador gang as terrorist group

The United States has designated the Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as a foreign terrorist organization, marking the latest expansion of the Trump administration's strategy to apply terrorism labels to criminal groups in Latin America. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation on Wednesday during a diplomatic visit to Quito, Ecuador. The State Department designated Los Tiguerones as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. According to the department, the gang is linked to narcotrafficking and has carried out attacks against civilians, law enforcement officers, and journalists. The group gained international attention in early 2024 when masked members stormed a television studio during a live broadcast, firing shots and forcing staff to the ground. "We are not talking about an ordinary mafia, nor are we talking about common criminals, we are talking about terrorists who, in many cases, possess weapons and equipment resembling the national armies of certain countries," Rubio said in Quito. He stated that Los Tiguerones helps Mexican cartels move and export illicit drugs to fund terrorism and criminal activity.