US designates major cartels, criminal groups as 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations'

ISTANBUL

The US has officially designated several criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), according to a State Department notice published Wednesday.

The designation, made under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also includes the United Cartels, the Gulf Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, and the Michoacan Family.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the decision followed consultation with the Attorney General and the Treasury Secretary, concluding that these groups meet the criteria for FTO status. The designation takes effect upon publication.

Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, operates across Latin America and known for prison control and regional expansion. MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a violent gang with roots in El Salvador. The Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels are among Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations. The Gulf and Northeast Cartels, along with the United Cartels and the Michoacan Family, are also major players in Mexico’s criminal landscape.

The move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office, directing federal agencies to designate international cartels as FTOs.

Trump’s executive order emphasized that international cartels pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security, foreign policy, and economy. The designations, effective immediately, aim to disrupt the operations and financing of these groups.

The designation allows the US to impose stricter financial sanctions, enhance law enforcement cooperation, and target affiliates aiding these groups.