United States designates Ecuadorian gang Chone Killers as foreign terrorist organisation
The United States Department of State classified the Chone Killers gang, which operates in Ecuador, as a "foreign terrorist organisation", imposing sanctions and adding it to a global list of terrorists.
United States designates Ecuadorian gang Chone Killers as foreign terrorist organisation
The United States Department of State designated the Chone Killers gang, active in Ecuador, as a "foreign terrorist organisation" and "specially designated global terrorist" on Wednesday, according to an official statement released by US diplomacy.
The measure entails the imposition of a series of financial sanctions against the group. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the gang of perpetrating attacks against "citizens, officials and members of law enforcement services" in Ecuadorian territory.
In addition, the organisation was included on a discrete blacklist of terrorist groups with worldwide reach. The decision is part of the broader policy of President Donald Trump's government against crime, both in the United States and in Latin America.
Since his return to the White House in January 2025, Trump has ordered several gangs in the region to be labelled as "terrorists". In that context, United States armed forces have been conducting bombardments since September 2025 against vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean, a campaign that has resulted in the deaths of more than 200 people and whose legality is questioned by the opposition and non-governmental organisations.
Rubio stated that Ecuadorian gangs collaborate with Mexican cartels to transfer and export narcotics, whose sale "finances terrorist activities and other criminal operations". In a post on social media platform X, the US official added that his government, together with Ecuador and President Daniel Noboa, would continue "protecting the hemisphere by keeping illegal drugs off our streets".
The Ecuadorian foreign ministry reacted by celebrating the measure. Via X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its gratitude for the "firm support" from Washington for Noboa's decision to "maintain a direct fight against criminal organisations".
Source: ERT News
Source: ERT