The United States has formally designated Los Tiguerones, a major gang operating in Ecuador, as a terrorist organization. The announcement came from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Quito, where he met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Rubio characterized the group as far more dangerous than ordinary criminal enterprises, noting their possession of sophisticated weaponry comparable to national military forces.
The Los Tiguerones gang gained international attention in 2024 when members stormed a television station during a live news broadcast, an incident that prompted President Noboa to declare a state of internal armed conflict. The armed assault, which was captured on live television, featured gang members displaying pistols, shotguns, machine guns, grenades, and explosives. The incident highlighted the escalating drug violence affecting Ecuador, with criminal organizations reportedly seeking to control trafficking routes for cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru destined for US markets.
Rubio’s designation of the group as terrorist is part of a broader Trump administration strategy targeting narcotics trafficking organizations across Latin America. The administration has established the Shield of the Americas coalition to strengthen security cooperation with right-leaning leaders in the region. Rubio announced plans to seek $45 million in additional congressional funding to support efforts aimed at dismantling these organizations and stated that elite military forces from both nations are conducting joint operations on an unprecedented scale.
During his three-nation tour through Latin America, Rubio is meeting with several newly elected conservative leaders, reflecting a significant rightward political shift in the region. He praised Ecuador as the Trump administration’s most aggressive partner in military campaigns against alleged drug traffickers, referencing controversial naval strikes that have resulted in significant casualties. The secretary of state is also visiting Colombia and Peru as part of efforts to deepen security partnerships with rightwing governments in the hemisphere.
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