U.S. designates Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as terrorist organization
The U.S. State Department has designated the Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), accusing it of helping Mexican cartels move illicit drugs and carrying out attacks against civilians, police officers and journalists.
The State Department announced the designation Wednesday, adding Los Tiguerones to its list of FTO’s and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).
The designation blocks any property or financial interests belonging to Los Tiguerones that are under U.S. jurisdiction and generally prohibits Americans from conducting transactions with the gang.
The State Department said the gang has carried out attacks against civilians, law enforcement officers and journalists, including the live takeover of an Ecuadorian television station in 2024.
“Los Tiguerones is yet another Ecuadorian gang helping Mexican cartels move and export illicit drugs to fund terrorism and criminal activity,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.
The designation comes as Rubio visits Colombia, Ecuador and Peru for talks focused on security and regional cooperation.
The Trump administration previously designated two other Ecuadorian gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as terrorist organizations.
It has also designated eight Mexican groups: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Gulf Cartel, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Northeast Cartel, Carteles Unidos, Juarez Cartel and Los Viagras.
Other groups designated by the administration include Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles, Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, Brazil’s Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital, and the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
