U.S. designates Ecuador’s “Chone Killers” gang a terrorist organization
U.S. Designates Ecuador’s “Chone Killers” Gang as a Terrorist Organization
U S designates Ecuador s Chone – On Wednesday, the United States officially recognized Ecuador’s “Chone Killers” gang as a foreign terrorist organization, as announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The designation follows the gang’s documented history of violent acts, including the assassination of public officials and attacks on civilians and law enforcement. “The Chone Killers have carried out numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials, including the high-profile killing of public figures,” Rubio stated in a statement. The group was further classified as “specially designated global terrorists,” underscoring its role in transnational criminal networks.
International Response and Implications
Ecuador’s foreign ministry praised the U.S. decision, expressing appreciation for the support provided to President Daniel Noboa’s efforts against organized crime. “The Government of Ecuador thanks the firm support of the United States for the decision by President Daniel Noboa to maintain an all-out fight against criminal organizations,” the ministry noted in a statement shared on X. This move signals a growing alignment between the two nations in combating illicit activities, with the U.S. leveraging its designations to target financial resources and operatives.
“The Trump administration, in partnership with Ecuador and President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our hemisphere by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding violent narcoterrorists,” Rubio added.
With the designation, the Chone Killers’ leaders and associates now face potential U.S. sanctions and legal action. The U.S. Treasury will freeze assets linked to the group, enabling financial pressure on its operations. This follows a pattern of similar actions against other Latin American gangs, including the Mexican Sinaloa cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, which have been labeled as terrorist organizations under U.S. policy.
Origins and Expansion of the Chone Killers
The Chone Killers trace their roots to Los Chineros, a gang previously designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2020. As an offshoot, the Chone Killers have grown in prominence, particularly in Ecuador’s coastal regions. Their activities are part of a broader network of criminal enterprises that have transformed the country into a major cocaine trafficking hub, according to reports. The escalation in gang-related violence has been evident in recent months, with eight bodies discovered in plastic bags in a prominent drug trafficking zone last month.
Los Lobos, or “The Wolves,” and Los Choneros, named after the city of Chone, are among the most active drug trafficking and extortion gangs in Ecuador. These groups maintain ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels, complicating regional efforts to combat illicit drug trade. In September, the U.S. had already designated Los Lobos as a terrorist organization, highlighting the administration’s focus on dismantling such networks. The Chone Killers’ inclusion in this list further reinforces the connection between local gangs and international terrorism.
Recent Crackdown and Gang Activity
Criminal violence in Ecuador has persisted despite recent operations. In June 2025, the country’s most significant drug lord, Adolfo Macías, who leads Los Choneros, was recaptured after escaping a maximum-security prison in 2024. His subsequent extradition to the United States in July 2025 marks a key step in the ongoing fight against narcoterrorism. “The Trump administration, in partnership with Ecuador and President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our hemisphere by keeping illicit drugs off our streets,” Rubio emphasized, pointing to the coordinated efforts between the two countries.
President Daniel Noboa, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, has implemented stringent measures to combat gang activity. These include curfews and military deployments in several provinces, supported by the U.S. as part of a broader strategy to eliminate criminal enterprises. In early March, the U.S. and Ecuador launched joint military operations targeting “designated terrorist organizations” within the country. The mission involved American commandos working alongside Ecuadorian troops to dismantle a suspected criminal hub along the coast, targeting an alleged narco-terrorist organization.
Broader Context of U.S. Counterterrorism Efforts
The designation of the Chone Killers is part of a larger U.S. campaign to address drug trafficking and organized crime across Latin America. Since the Trump administration took office, several groups have been labeled as terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa cartel and Tren de Aragua. Last month, Trump announced that U.S. Southern Command had eliminated Tren de Aragua’s alleged leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, through a “swift and lethal kinetic strike.”
“Last month, Mr. Trump said the U.S. military killed Tren de Aragua’s alleged leader. The president said on Truth Social that U.S. Southern Command carried out a ‘swift and lethal kinetic strike’ to ‘successfully execute’ Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero.”
These actions reflect a combination of military and diplomatic strategies to weaken drug trafficking networks. The U.S. has increasingly partnered with Ecuador to target gangs that have infiltrated the country, using the designation of foreign terrorist organizations as a tool to justify financial and legal consequences. Ecuador’s transformation from a relatively safe nation to a major cocaine trafficking hub has prompted urgent intervention, with the government working to curb the spread of gang influence.
With the Chone Killers now classified as a terrorist organization, the U.S. aims to disrupt their operations and expand its counterterrorism framework in the region. The designation also serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of organized crime, where groups like Los Choneros have shifted from traditional drug trafficking to more violent, politically motivated acts. As the Ecuadoran government continues its efforts to dismantle these networks, the collaboration with the U.S. remains critical in addressing the root causes of gang-related violence and securing the region’s stability.
Impact of the Designation
The new designation will enable the U.S. to impose sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the Chone Killers, freezing their assets and restricting financial transactions. This measure is intended to cut off funding sources and encourage defections within the gang. Additionally, the U.S. will have the authority to pursue criminal charges against members of the group, enhancing legal options for prosecution. The decision also highlights the U.S. commitment to using designations as a means to combat transnational criminal threats, even in regions where such groups have long operated under the radar.
As the situation in Ecuador evolves, the interplay between local and international actors will likely shape the outcomes of these counterterrorism initiatives. The continued presence of gangs like the Chone Killers, with ties to global cartels, underscores the challenges faced by the Ecuadoran government in its efforts to restore security. The U.S. designation, however, provides a renewed focus and resources to tackle the growing menace of narcoterrorism in the region, reinforcing its role as a key player in South American security efforts.