— The United States announced it will designate Ecuador’s two most powerful criminal groups, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Quito, enabling asset freezes, expanded intelligence sharing and targeted actions while pledging $13.5 million in security aid and $6 million in drone technology to support Ecuador’s government.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. will formally label Los Lobos and Los Choneros as foreign terrorist organizations, announced Sept. 4 in Quito.
- Designation allows Washington to freeze assets, target associates, and share intelligence with Ecuadorian authorities.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged $13.5 million in security assistance and $6 million in drone technology.
- President Daniel Noboa, who has declared a war on organized crime, met with Rubio during the visit.
- Ecuadorian government data indicates about 70% of global cocaine transits through Ecuador.
- The move follows broader regional actions, including a recent U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel that killed 11 people the U.S. said were members of Tren de Aragua.
- Legal and humanitarian questions remain, including effects on asylum claims and potential penalties for civilians coerced into payments.
Verified Facts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation during a one-day visit to Quito on September 4, 2025. He met with Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, who has publicly declared a campaign against organized crime as violence and cartel influence have risen in Ecuador.
The designation classifies Los Lobos and Los Choneros as foreign terrorist organizations. Under U.S. law, that label enables sanctions such as asset freezes, criminal penalties for providing material support, travel restrictions, and enhanced avenues for intelligence cooperation with partner governments.
Rubio pledged $13.5 million in security assistance and the transfer of $6 million in drone-related technology to assist Ecuador’s operations against transnational criminal groups. Washington said the measures aim to disrupt what Ecuadorian authorities describe as major cocaine transit routes from Colombia and Peru through Ecuador to global markets.
Ecuadorian government figures cited during the visit say roughly 70% of the world’s cocaine now transits through Ecuador. The U.S. move follows coordinated regional activity: earlier this week, U.S. forces struck a Venezuelan-flagged vessel, which U.S. officials said carried narcotics and members of Tren de Aragua, killing 11 people; Tren de Aragua has been designated previously by the U.S. as a terrorist entity.
Context & Impact
The designation expands legal and operational tools available to U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities, potentially accelerating joint operations and intelligence exchanges. It signals a tougher U.S. posture toward transnational criminal organizations operating in the region.
However, the label carries domestic and regional consequences. Immigration attorneys note the designation could support asylum claims for people fleeing gang violence, while also exposing some civilians to criminal liability if coerced payments are later construed as material support.
President Noboa has proposed a referendum to permit foreign military bases in Ecuador for the first time since 2009; Rubio said Washington would consider a base if Ecuador formally invites it. Any foreign-bases move would involve complex legal, political and sovereignty questions across Ecuadorian institutions and civil society.
- Migration: Increased cartel violence has contributed to greater migration flows from Ecuador toward the U.S. border.
- Regional diplomacy: The action follows high-level meetings in Mexico and broader U.S. operations against drug trafficking networks.
Official Statements
“These groups do not surrender easily,” Rubio said of the gangs and described them in strong terms while outlining the new measures.
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State
Unconfirmed
- Whether U.S. strikes on Ecuadorian soil will follow the designation has not been announced and remains unconfirmed.
- The legal pathway and timeline for a successful Ecuadorian referendum to host foreign bases have not been finalized.
- Long-term effects on local civilians who paid extortion or were forced to assist gangs remain uncertain and will depend on prosecutorial discretion and humanitarian protections.
Bottom Line
The U.S. move to designate Los Lobos and Los Choneros as foreign terrorist organizations strengthens Washington’s toolkit against transnational criminal networks and deepens security ties with Quito, while raising legal and humanitarian questions that Ecuadorian and international authorities must address. Expect intensified intelligence cooperation and operational pressure on the gangs, but also heightened scrutiny over the treatment of affected civilians and sovereignty concerns.