The United States has formally designated Chone Killers, an Ecuador-based criminal gang, as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity. Washington says the group has orchestrated numerous attacks on civilians, law enforcement personnel and government officials, including the killings of high-ranking public figures.
According to the State Department, Chone Killers broke away from Los Choneros, another designated terrorist group, and became independent in 2020. The U.S. says it will work with Ecuador and President Daniel Noboa to strengthen regional security by targeting drug trafficking networks and dismantling their financial operations.
The Trump Administration framed the move as part of its broader strategy to dismantle drug cartels and terrorist networks threatening the hemisphere and American citizens. The designation came just one day after Washington imposed sanctions on two Mexican nationals and nine companies accused of stealing fuel and ties to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.
The CJNG, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, was previously led by Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," until Mexican military forces killed him in February 2025. The Treasury Department said the cartel's control over Mexico's oil and petrochemical sectors poses serious risks to legitimate American businesses and the U.S. financial system.
Treasury officials noted that the sanctions highlight how criminal organizations exploit critical infrastructure to generate illegal revenue. The action underscores Washington's determination to disrupt major drug trafficking networks operating throughout Latin America.
