US designates Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as terrorist organisation

The United States has designated Ecuador-based criminal gang Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

The US Department of State announced the designation on Wednesday, citing the gang’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking, attacks on civilians, security personnel and journalists, as well as other violent criminal activities.

Los Tiguerones was also linked to the January 2024 attack on Ecuador’s TC Television station in Guayaquil, where armed men stormed the studio during a live broadcast and held journalists and other staff hostage.

The incident lasted about 20 minutes before security forces intervened.

The attack came amid a worsening security crisis in Ecuador, where powerful criminal organisations have been involved in drug trafficking, extortion and violent clashes over control of drug routes, particularly in coastal areas.

Following the 2024 television station attack, Ecuador designated 22 criminal organisations as terrorist groups and launched a military crackdown against organised crime.

The US State Department said the latest designation is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and cut off the financial resources of violent criminal organisations.

“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,” the department said.

Under the designation, all property and interests in property belonging to Los Tiguerones that are located in the United States or under the possession or control of US persons will be blocked.

US persons are also generally prohibited from conducting transactions with the group.

The State Department said such designations are designed to expose and isolate terrorist organisations by denying them access to the US financial system and resources that could be used to finance attacks.

The measures could also strengthen law enforcement cooperation between US agencies and other governments in efforts to disrupt the group’s activities.

The designation was announced during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Ecuador, where he also announced plans to seek an additional $45 million in US security assistance for the country’s fight against drug trafficking.

Ecuador continues to face severe violence linked to powerful criminal networks competing for control of drug trafficking routes and other illicit activities.