U.S. designates Mexican cartels as terrorist groups amid accusations of attacks on Ecuador vessels

In February 2025 the Trump administration expanded its Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist listings to include 20 criminal groups across the Western Hemisphere. Six Mexican drug cartels—Sinaloa, CJNG, Noreste, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Gulf and United Cartels—were added, along with organizations from Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and others. The designations target the groups’ financial networks, freezing assets under U.S. jurisdiction and restricting material support.

Human Rights Watch alleges that between January and March 2026 U.S. forces attacked three fishing vessels off Ecuador’s Pacific coast—the “La Negra Francisca Duarte II”, “Don Maca” and “Fiorella”—leaving at least eight crew members missing. The U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard deny involvement. The report calls for a congressional inquiry, citing possible extrajudicial killings and coordinated anti‑narcotics operations with Quito.

Analysts say the terrorist listings could deepen intelligence sharing with Mexico while the vessel incidents raise concerns about human‑rights compliance in U.S. maritime actions against transnational crime.