U.S. designates Ecuadorian gang as foreign terrorist org

The United States has formally designated the Ecuadorian criminal group known as the Chone Killers as a foreign terrorist organization, a move that imposes sanctions and signals a deepening partnership between Washington and Quito to combat organized crime. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation on July 2, 2026, stating the gang has also been classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Rubio said the designation is due to the gang's numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials, including high-profile assassinations. The action is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against organized crime and drug trafficking in Latin America, which has previously seen other groups, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, receive similar terrorist labels.

In his statement, Rubio framed the effort as a hemispheric security initiative, asserting that the administration, in partnership with Ecuador and President Daniel Noboa, will work to keep illicit drugs off U.S. streets and disrupt revenue streams that fund violent groups. He further alleged that Ecuadorian gangs, including...