The US State Department has designated the Ecuadorean gang Chone Killers as a foreign “terrorist organisation”, imposing sanctions on a crime group that Washington has accused of carrying out attacks on civilians and public officials. According to multiple reports, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the gang has also been classified as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist”.
Key Takeaways
The US has designated Ecuador’s Chone Killers gang as a foreign terrorist organization, imposing sanctions and classifying it as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The move is part of a broader campaign against organized crime in Latin America.
- U.S. State Department designates Ecuador's Chone Killers gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio accuses the group of targeting civilians and public officials
- The designation is part of President Donald Trump’s administration crackdown on criminal gangs in Latin America
- Ecuador’s government welcomes the U.S. decision, supporting President Daniel Noboa's campaign against criminal organizations
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation Of Chone Killers | Broad Agreement | Chone Killers designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist | |
| Attacks By Chone Killers | Broad Agreement | Numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials | |
| Broader Campaign In Latin America | Broad Agreement | Part of broader crackdown by Trump administration on criminal gangs in Latin America | |
| Support From Ecuadorian Government | Broad Agreement | Ecuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the U.S. decision and supports President Noboa's cam… |
Designation Of Chone Killers
Broad AgreementChone Killers designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist
Attacks By Chone Killers
Broad AgreementNumerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials
Broader Campaign In Latin America
Broad AgreementPart of broader crackdown by Trump administration on criminal gangs in Latin America
Support From Ecuadorian Government
Broad AgreementEcuador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the U.S. decision and supports President Noboa's campaign against criminal organisations
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
Rubio said in a statement announcing the designations that Chone Killers has committed numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials, including high-profile assassinations of public officials. The move against the Ecuadorian street gang is part of a broader campaign by US President Donald Trump’s administration on organised crime and drug trafficking in Latin America.
As reported by UPI, this designation makes it a federal crime to knowingly provide material support to the group and blocks its property and interests within U.S. jurisdiction. The Trump administration has designated several other Latin American gangs and drug cartels as “terrorist” organisations, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.
Rubio also alleged that Ecuadorean gangs help Mexican cartels transport and export illegal drugs, which he said fund “terrorism” and other criminal activity. Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the US decision, saying it reflected Washington’s strong support for President Daniel Noboa’s campaign against criminal organisations.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.