US Prepared to ‘Blow Up’ Foreign Crime Groups, Secretary of State Says

In a stark warning to transnational criminal groups, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is prepared to “blow up” foreign crime organizations if necessary, unveiling new designations of Ecuadorian gangs as foreign terrorist entities during his Latin American tour. The U.S. Department of State, under Secretary Rubio’s leadership, has officially designated Los Lobos and Los Choneros, two of Ecuador’s most notorious criminal gangs, as foreign terrorist organizations. This move, announced in Quito, Ecuador, grants the U.S. government expanded authorities to target these groups, including seizing assets, sharing intelligence without restrictions, and potentially employing lethal force in coordination with host nations. Rubio’s comments come amidst a backdrop of soaring violence in Ecuador, where criminal gangs have intensified their grip on drug trafficking routes. The country has become a key transit point for cocaine, with approximately 70% of global supply passing through, leading to a dramatic increase in homicides and instability that has fueled migration northward. Earlier this week, the Trump administration demonstrated its willingness to use military power by conducting a strike on a Venezuelan boat suspected of carrying drugs, resulting in 11 fatalities. Rubio defended this action, stating that traditional interdiction methods have failed and that the U.S. will now take more aggressive measures against narco-terrorist organizations. The secretary’s remarks have stirred mixed reactions across Latin America, where memories of U.S. interventionism remain sensitive. While some leaders, like Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, have expressed support for strengthened cooperation, others, including Mexican officials, emphasized the importance of sovereignty and peaceful conflict resolution. This policy shift aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda to combat drug trafficking and illegal immigration, which he has framed as a national security priority. The administration has signaled that further military actions are possible, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirming that U.S. assets will remain in the region to continue operations. The designation of criminal groups as terrorists could have implications for asylum seekers from Ecuador, potentially classifying them as victims of terrorism but also raising concerns about penalties for those who may have been coerced into supporting gangs. Legal experts are scrutinizing the recent boat strike for potential violations of international law. As the U.S. escalates its campaign against transnational crime, the international community watches closely, balancing concerns over sovereignty with the shared goal of curbing narcotics trafficking and the violence it perpetuates in the Americas.