Quito (AFP) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Ecuador Wednesday to press the fight against "narco-terrorists" who have transformed the country into one of Latin America's most violent.
Issued on: 09/09/2026 - 18:26Modified: 09/09/2026 - 21:52
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Rubio visited Quito as the second stop on a three-nation tour designed to shore up conservative allies in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and bolster US influence across the region.During the trip, he announced the designation of Ecuador's Los Tiguerones gang as a "terrorist organization," escalating Washington's campaign against powerful criminal groups."We are not talking about an ordinary mafia, nor are we talking about common criminals," Rubio said after meeting President Daniel Noboa."We are talking about terrorists who, in many cases, possess weapons and equipment resembling the national armies of certain countries."The Tiguerones made international headlines in early 2024 when masked gang members stormed a TV studio during a live broadcast, firing shots and forcing terrified crew to the ground. They are linked to cocaine trafficking, extortion, contract killings, arms trafficking, money laundering and waves of violence.More than 25,000 people have been murdered in Ecuador in the last three years.Rubio said seven unnamed former members of Ecuador's government would also be sanctioned "for accepting bribes" and involvement with proscribed groups.Drug gangs
