U.S. adds Ecuador's Chone Killers gang to foreign terrorist organization list

The United States announced that the Ecuadorian criminal group known as the Chone Killers has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the gang has carried out numerous attacks on civilians, law‑enforcement officers and public officials, including high‑profile assassinations. The designation follows earlier listings of related groups such as Los Choneros and Los Lobos and is part of a broader U.S. campaign to target narco‑terrorist organizations in Latin America, including joint military operations with Ecuadorian forces.

InSight Crime analysts noted that the Chone Killers split from the Choneros in 2020 after the death of their leader, Jorge Luis Zambrano, leading to the emergence of rival factions. They questioned whether the group fits the terrorist label, but affirmed that the U.S. designation marks the 18th Latin American gang placed on the list since February, expanding sanctions and prosecution options against anyone associated with the gang.