In Ecuador, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced the inclusion of the group Los Tiguerones on the list of terrorist organizations of the USA. The criminal group, created in 2020 as a split from the cartel Los Choneros, is responsible for attacks against civilians, security forces and journalists. Los Choneros had already been included on the list of the American State Department since 2025.
Rubio also promised new security aid to the Ecuadorian government during his visit to Quito, where he met with President Daniel Noboa at the Carondelet Palace. The Secretary of State stated there is no "better ally in the region" in the fight against drug trafficking than Noboa, describing him as a follower of Donald Trump's playbook.
The visit to Ecuador represents the second stop on Rubio's tour of allies in South America, which also includes a meeting with the president of Colombia, a country pressured to intensify the fight against drug trafficking. The article was interrupted during the description of events involving members of the organization in 2024.
