Story perspectives

U.S. Labels Ecuador’s Chone Killers Terrorist, Backs Anti-Gang Push

7/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the Chone Killers gang as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, citing attacks on civilians, police and assassinations.
Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the United States and backs President Daniel Noboa’s anti-gang campaign, which includes curfews and military deployments.
President Donald Trump’s wider effort aims to label Latin American criminal groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, as terrorist organizations.

History

Historical Context

On 15 October 1999 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1267, creating sanctions that froze assets, banned travel and imposed an arms embargo on the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Subsequent resolutions (1333 in 2000, 1390 in 2002) widened the list to 345 individuals and entities. The United States now applies that model to American gangs such as Chone Killers and Tren de Aragua, enabling asset seizures and operations.

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Story summary

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the Chone Killers gang as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, citing attacks on civilians, police and assassinations.
Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the United States and backs President Daniel Noboa’s anti-gang campaign, which includes curfews and military deployments.
President Donald Trump’s wider effort aims to label Latin American criminal groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, as terrorist organizations.

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