Full Breakdown
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Designates Ecuadorian Gang Los Tiguerones as Terrorist Group
9/10/2026, 12:47:42 AM
Designation of Los Tiguerones as a Terrorist Organization
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Ecuador-based gang Los Tiguerones has been classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The declaration was made while Rubio was in Quito, Ecuador, as part of a three-nation tour aimed at bolstering economic and security cooperation with Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Background and Recent Designations
The new designation follows a series of similar actions earlier in the year, including the July designation of three other Ecuadorian groups—Los Lobos, Los Choneros, and a third unnamed organization. Rubio linked Los Tiguerones to narcotrafficking and noted that the gang was responsible for a live takeover of an Ecuadorian television station in 2024.
Official Statements & Responses
He further described the group as “violent, bloodthirsty” and emphasized the need for continued pursuit of such organizations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Los Tiguerones is yet another Ecuadorian gang helping Mexican cartels move and export illicit drugs to fund terrorism and criminal activity including attacks against civilians, law enforcement, and journalists,” — State Marco Rubio
- “They're not ordinary. These are violent, bloodthirsty terrorist organizations. And we have to make sure that we continue to pursue them,” — State Marco Rubio
Implications for U.S. Security Cooperation
The designation underscores the United States’ focus on curbing transnational criminal networks that intersect with terrorist financing. By labeling Los Tiguerones as a terrorist entity, the U.S. aims to disrupt the gang’s financial channels and strengthen collaborative law-enforcement efforts with regional partners in the Andean corridor. This move is presented as part of a broader strategy to protect civilians, journalists, and law-enforcement personnel from organized-crime-related violence.
