Key Facts

• The U.S. government has identified 21 criminal groups in Latin America and the Caribbean as foreign terrorist organizations.
• The latest group added to the list is from Ecuador.
• This announcement happened during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
• The trip’s main goal is to fight drug trafficking in Latin America.
• Designating these groups as terrorist organizations increases U.S. legal and financial tools to combat them.
• The effort is part of a broader U.S. strategy to reduce illegal drugs entering the United States.
• This designation can lead to sanctions against these groups and their members.
• The administration aims to improve cooperation with Latin American countries to stop drug crimes.