U.S. Labels Eight Latin American Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

[Social Media]

 

The United States government has officially classified eight Latin American criminal organizations that operate both abroad and within U.S. borders as "foreign terrorist organizations." These groups, involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent territorial expansion, are now receiving the same designation as entities like al-Qaida and the Islamic State. The move, set to be published in the Federal Register, is meant to apply further pressure on these groups and those who support them.  

 

Among the designated organizations is the **Sinaloa Cartel**, one of Mexico’s most powerful and enduring criminal groups. Established in the 1970s, this cartel operates as a sprawling syndicate controlling large portions of the U.S.-Mexico border. It utilizes boats, aircraft, tunnels, and human couriers to transport narcotics across continents.

 

The cartel has been deeply involved in fentanyl production, importing precursor chemicals from China and smuggling the finished drug into the U.S., where fentanyl overdoses have claimed tens of thousands of lives annually. The arrest of its long-standing leader, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has led to internal power struggles between his loyalists and the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the cartel’s former head now serving a life sentence in the U.S.  

 

Another designated group, the **Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG)**, rose to prominence in 2011 when it violently introduced itself to Mexico with the mass murder of over 30 people in Veracruz. Known for its rapid expansion and extreme brutality, CJNG has deployed drones carrying explosives, improvised explosive devices, and even attempted an assassination on a top Mexican security official. Led by Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, the cartel supplies vast quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl across the U.S.  

 

The **Gulf Cartel and Northeast Cartel**, both operating along Mexico’s eastern border with the U.S., are also on the list. The Gulf Cartel, once a dominant force, has fractured into violent factions. It previously created the Zetas, an elite group of ex-military enforcers who later became an independent cartel. The Northeast Cartel, a remnant of the once-powerful Zetas, maintains control over parts of Nuevo Laredo, a major commercial hub at the U.S.-Mexico border.  

 

Two smaller Mexican crime groups, **La Nueva Familia Michoacana and United Cartels**, have also been designated as terrorist organizations. While they are involved in drug trafficking, their control extends beyond narcotics. They have leveraged extortion and violence to control a significant portion of Mexico’s $2.8 billion avocado industry. Their threats against U.S. inspectors monitoring avocado production for pests have raised alarms in Washington.  

 

Outside of Mexico, the Venezuelan group **Tren de Aragua** has also earned the terrorist label. Originally formed inside a prison, this group has expanded across South America and into the U.S. Its operations now revolve around migrant smuggling, human trafficking, forced labor, and sexual exploitation. Tren de Aragua is infamous for its extreme brutality, using decapitations and live burials to instill fear. It has embedded itself into criminal networks throughout the continent, using cryptocurrency for money laundering. The gang has also become a central talking point in the U.S. political debate on illegal immigration.  

 

Another designated group, **Mara Salvatrucha**, more commonly known as **MS-13**, was previously a focal point of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Originally formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s by Salvadoran refugees, the gang spread back to El Salvador after deportations and quickly became one of the most violent criminal organizations in the region. MS-13 has engaged in widespread extortion, drug trafficking, and ruthless violence. While it has been significantly weakened by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s sweeping crackdown, in which over 80,000 suspected gang members have been arrested, human rights groups have raised concerns over due process violations.  

 

The decision to classify these groups as foreign terrorist organizations marks an escalation in the U.S. approach to combating organized crime in Latin America. By labeling them as terrorist entities, the U.S. government gains broader legal authority to target not only the groups themselves but also their financiers and collaborators. This move is expected to intensify the crackdown on drug trafficking and transnational crime, though it may also strain diplomatic relations with some Latin American nations.

 

Based on a report by The Independent  2025-02-21

 

 

[impulse]

Hopefully, the FBI, CIA and others can now focus on keeping Americans safe, and not keeping Trump out of the White House. 

 

That horse has bolted.

 

Thanks be to the Dem elite who tanked their chances with such a disastrous slate of candidates, up and down the ballots.

 

[Tug]

Hopefully the felon doesn’t think he can now war on our neighbors under the guise of indirecting drug smuggling…….wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he did.obiously Mexico would see it as an act of war.

[hotsun]

Those are potential democrat voters they are labelling as terrorists, how dare they

[khunjeff]

These groups are awful, but they're transnational criminal organizations, not terrorist organizations, and mislabeling them just adds confusion to efforts to fight actual terrorist groups. 

 

"The FBI defines terrorism, domestic or international, as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a Government or civilian population in furtherance of political or social objectives."

 

https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/fbi-and-terrorism

[Centigrade32]

In related news, in English: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/they-should-start-with-their-own-country-mexican-president-on-us-drug-cartel-crackdown/3475318

 

 

Amongst the questions she asks is:

"What happens to the drugs after the border?"

"Who operates the drug distribution?"

"Who sells the drugs in the cities of the U.S.A that have caused so much tragedy?"

"Where does the money  from the sale of the drugs in America's cities go?"

"How is it that weapons that are for the exclusive use of the United States Military end up in Mexico?"

"Who sold them?"

"How were they transported into Mexico?"

 

I think it important to see it from the perspective of both sides.