US designates Guatemalan gangs as terrorist groups over drug trafficking ties

The US has designated three Guatemalan gangs as terrorist groups, citing drug trafficking revenue used to finance violence and crime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio named Los Lorenzanas as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Los Huistas and Los Mendoza as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, enabling asset freezes and wider enforcement action.

The Trump administration designated three Guatemalan gangs as terrorist groups, saying drug money funded violence and crime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the move on Friday. The groups were Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas and Los Mendoza. US officials said all three had strong connections to Mexican drug cartels.

US authorities said the sanctions allowed action against the groups and their members. The measures included freezing any assets under US control. Rubio applied two different legal labels. Los Lorenzanas received a Foreign Terrorist Organisation designation. Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

Guatemalan gangs terrorist designations and US penalties

The Foreign Terrorist Organisation label carried extra consequences under US law. It allowed criminal cases against people who provided material support. Both labels also enabled financial restrictions in US jurisdictions. The US said the goal was to disrupt funding sources linked to drug trafficking and related violence.

“The Trump administration will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding violent narcoterrorists,\” Rubio said in a statement. \”We will not stand by while these foreign terrorist organisations corrupt Guatemalas institutions.\”

Guatemalan gangs terrorist designations linked to cartel ties

Los Huistas operated in western Guatemala near the Mexico border. US and Guatemalan officials described support from local politicians and businesspeople. Authorities said this backing helped the group operate with impunity. Guatemalan authorities accused Los Huistas of links to the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Guatemala extradited one Los Huistas leader last year, officials said. The person was described as one of the 100 most wanted men by the US government. Authorities connected the extradition to long-running investigations into cross-border drug trafficking routes and protection networks near the frontier.

Los Lorenzana was described as a family clan active in eastern and northern Guatemala. Authorities said operations ran along the border with Honduras. The group faced accusations of drug trafficking. Guatemalan authorities also said Los Lorenzana was allied with the Sinaloa Cartel.

Los Mendoza, also described as a family clan, faced drug trafficking allegations. Authorities said it had ties to Guatemalan politicians and government officials. The group’s activity focused along Guatemala’s borders with Honduras and Belize. It was known for violent land grabs in areas under its control.

The US said the designations targeted groups seen as key parts of regional drug networks. Officials linked the gangs to Mexican cartels and local influence in Guatemala. The actions aimed to restrict money flows through asset freezes and other measures. The designations also increased legal risk for anyone supporting the groups.

With inputs from PTI