Trump Admin Hits Narcoterrorists Hard — Major Gang Just Got the Hammer

Liberty Check

• Trump administration expands war on Latin American cartels by designating another violent gang as a foreign terrorist organization
• Los Tiguerones, an Ecuador-based narcotrafficking gang responsible for attacks on civilians and journalists, now faces full U.S. sanctions
• Secretary Rubio announces action during South American tour, emphasizing commitment to dismantle cartels and protect American lives

The Trump administration designated an Ecuadorian gang as a “foreign terrorist organization” on Wednesday, extending its crackdown on violent criminal networks operating in Latin America and the Caribbean. The State Department now lists 21 designated foreign terrorist groups in the region.

The State Department officially designated Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Ecuador-based gang is linked to narcotrafficking and violent attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers and journalists, including the shocking live takeover of an Ecuadorian TV station in 2024.

“The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding violent narcoterrorists,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

“Today’s action taken by the State Department further demonstrates that the Trump administration continues to deliver on its promises to the American people to dismantle cartels and narcoterrorist networks in our region, ensuring the safety of the American people.”

Rubio made the announcement during his diplomatic tour to South America, where he traveled to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to address U.S. efforts to combat the flood of deadly drugs into American communities. The designation sends a clear message: criminal organizations terrorizing innocent people will face the full force of American sanctions.

The foreign terrorist organization label was traditionally reserved for groups like ISIS and al-Qaida that use violence for political goals. But the Trump administration is adapting the strategy to increase pressure on financially motivated crime rings and anyone assisting them, recognizing that the carnage they inflict on American families demands the strongest possible response.

The government began deploying this strategy in February 2025, and it has already proven effective. It served as the legal framework for the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, as well as dozens of operations targeting boats involved in narcotics trafficking.

The approach has also encouraged Latin American countries to take action. Guatemala and Argentina have launched similar designations against criminal groups, and Ecuador has partnered with U.S. forces for joint operations on its own soil.

Rubio explained that terrorist designations “expose and isolate entities and individuals, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources they need to carry out attacks.” He added that the designations support law enforcement actions by other U.S. agencies and allied governments.

Mexico currently has the most groups of any country on the U.S. list for designated foreign terrorist organizations, with eight separate cartels facing sanctions. The Mexican government is under intense pressure from the U.S. to prevent President Donald Trump from authorizing unilateral military action against cartels operating on Mexican soil.

The president’s comprehensive strategy reflects a fundamental shift in how America confronts the cartels flooding our communities with fentanyl and unleashing violence across the hemisphere. By treating these criminal enterprises as the terrorists they are, the Trump administration is using every tool at its disposal to protect American lives.

Americans deserve better.