U.S. Designates Ecuador Gang Los Tiguerones Terrorist Group
U.S. Designates Ecuador Gang Los Tiguerones Terrorist Group
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Key Points
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Ecuador has recorded more than 25,000 murders over the past three years amid the surge in cartel violence, according to official figures.
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An estimated 70% of the cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru passes through Ecuador, making the country a key transit hub for drugs bound for the United States, Europe and Asia.
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Los Tiguerones have also been linked to extortion, contract killings, arms trafficking and money laundering, as well as kidnappings of police officers and prison guards and prison riots.
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Rubio said Washington had already targeted a network of 15 entities and individuals and immobilized 10 fishing vessels allegedly used to facilitate drug trafficking and related activities.
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The designation was made under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224; the FTO designation takes effect when published in the Federal Register.
The U.S. State Department designated Ecuador's Los Tiguerones gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, citing narcotrafficking, attacks on civilians and journalists, and a 2024 television station takeover. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the gang helps Mexican cartels move drugs and operates as a violent terrorist organization, not just a criminal group.
The designation blocks any U.S.-based property and prohibits Americans from conducting transactions with Los Tiguerones, aiming to disrupt finances and support law enforcement. The action follows similar designations of Los Lobos and Los Choneros in July and comes as Ecuador battles escalating cartel violence and competition over prisons, ports, and trafficking routes.
Ecuador's Cocaine Crisis Fuels Cartel Violence
Ecuador has recorded more than 25,000 murders in the past three years, according to official figures cited by The Guardian. An estimated 70% of cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru passes through Ecuador, making it a key transit hub for drugs bound for the United States, Europe, and Asia.
The country has become a battleground for rival criminal organizations fighting over control of prisons, ports, and trafficking routes. Los Tiguerones and other designated gangs compete for dominance in this lucrative smuggling landscape.
Los Tiguerones' Pattern of Violence and Crime
Los Tiguerones have been linked to extortion, contract killings, arms trafficking, money laundering, and kidnappings of police officers and prison guards, according to Yahoo News. The gang stormed a television station in 2024 and orchestrated prison riots, marking major escalations in their criminal activity.
The designation covers the gang's role in narcotics trafficking and attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement, and journalists. BNO News reported the gang helps Mexican cartels move illicit drugs through Ecuador's ports and trafficking networks.
U.S. Targets Gang's Financial Networks and Assets
Secretary Rubio announced that Washington had already targeted 15 entities and individuals connected to Los Tiguerones and immobilized 10 fishing vessels allegedly used for drug trafficking. These enforcement actions aim to disrupt the gang's financial operations and supply chains.
Rubio also announced planned sanctions against seven former Ecuadorian officials accused of accepting bribes from criminal networks during his Quito visit. The designation takes effect when published in the Federal Register under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224.
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