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US designates Ecuador’s Chone Killers gang as ‘terrorist’ organisation
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- The US State Department has designated the Ecuadorean gang Chone Killers as a foreign terrorist organization and imposed sanctions, accusing the group of attacks on civilians and public officials.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the gang's classification as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" entity, citing numerous attacks and high-profile assassinations.
- This designation is part of the Trump administration's broader campaign against organized crime and drug trafficking in Latin America, which includes labeling other gangs like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel as terrorist organizations.
- Rubio alleged that Ecuadorean gangs collaborate with Mexican cartels to transport and export illegal drugs that fund terrorism and criminal activities.
- Ecuador’s government, led by President Daniel Noboa, welcomed the US decision, highlighting ongoing efforts supported by Washington to combat criminal organizations through measures such as curfews and military deployments.
