Marco Rubio Advocates for Aggressive Action Against Foreign Crime Groups

Sat Sep 13 2025 15:50:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declares willingness to target foreign crime syndicates, designates major Ecuadorian gangs as terrorist organizations, and announces security aid during a visit to Ecuador.

During a recent visit to Ecuador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is prepared to 'blow up' foreign crime organizations if necessary, potentially working in coordination with other nations. He designated Ecuador’s prominent gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations, following a U.S. military strike that reportedly killed drug traffickers in the Caribbean. Rubio emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating criminal syndicates, amid growing violence linked to drug trafficking in Ecuador.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has asserted that the U.S. is ready to take decisive action against foreign crime groups, stating, Now they're gonna help us find these people and blow them up, if that's what it takes, during his visit to Ecuador.

In a significant move, he announced that the U.S. will officially designate two of Ecuador's largest criminal gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations, which aligns with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's appeals for intensified international support in the fight against these gangs.

This declaration follows a U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean, which the White House reported resulted in the deaths of eleven drug traffickers whose identities were not disclosed.

Rubio's comments come amid recent tensions with Venezuela, where the U.S. defense department accused military aircraft of provocatively interfering with American counter-narcotics efforts. However, both the Ecuadorian and Mexican governments have yet to confirm any planned military assistance in this endeavor.

As violence escalates due to clashing criminal organizations fighting for cocaine routes, which overwhelmingly transit through Ecuador, Rubio also announced $13.5 million in security aid and $6 million in drone technology to assist Ecuador in combatting drug trafficking.

The designation of these gangs allows the U.S. to target their assets and share intelligence unrestrictedly with Ecuador, potentially leading to lethal operations against them.