U.S. Designates Chone Killers As Foreign Terrorist Organization

The United States has added another Ecuadorian criminal group to its terrorism-designation framework.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Chone Killers were designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Why The Designation Matters

Rubio said Ecuadorian gangs help Mexican cartels move and export illicit drugs to finance terrorism and criminal activity. He also said the Chone Killers have attacked civilians, law-enforcement officers and government officials, including high-profile assassinations of public officials.

Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry thanked the United States for its backing, linking the move to President Daniel Noboa’s security policy.

Where The Group Operates

The Chone Killers operate in Guayas, especially Guayaquil, Daule and Duran.

This is the third Ecuadorian criminal group the United States has declared terrorist, after Los Choneros and Los Lobos.

What This Means For Expats

For foreign residents, this does not change daily paperwork or residency status. The significance is security coordination: U.S. designations can affect sanctions, banking exposure, law-enforcement cooperation and how governments treat groups tied to organized crime.

If you live in or travel through Guayas, the location detail matters more than the label. It is another sign that Ecuador’s security situation is being handled as a transnational organized-crime issue, not just a local policing problem.