U.S. designates 21 Latin American criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations
The U.S. has labeled 21 criminal groups across Latin America and the Caribbean as foreign terrorist organizations, a policy shift from targeting ideologically driven groups to money-focused cartels and gangs. The list includes major Mexican cartels (eight groups), Colombia's Clan del Golfo, Venezuela-linked entities such as Tren de Aragua and the so-called Cartel de los Soles, Brazilian organizations and Haitian gangs. The strategy, begun in February 2025, has already been cited in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and in operations that killed over 200 people on alleged "narcoterrorist" boats, and it prompted some regional states to adopt similar measures.
The U.S. has designated 21 Latin American criminal groups as FTOs
Context
The U.S. strategy began in February 2025 and reclassified drug and criminal networks as terrorist groups. That shift enabled arrests and cross-border operations in the region. More countries could adopt similar designations or launch joint…
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