Additional Coverage:
- US designates Colombia’s Clan del Golfo as a terrorist organization, citing narcotics trafficking (foxnews.com)
U.S. Labels Colombia’s Clan del Golfo a Terrorist Organization Amid Border Tensions
**WASHINGTON D.C. ** – The U.S.
Department of State announced Tuesday its decision to designate Clan del Golfo, one of Colombia’s largest illegal armed groups, as a terrorist organization. This move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to bolster counter-narcotics and security operations near the Colombia-Venezuela border, a region experiencing heightened tensions.
The designation follows accusations by President Donald Trump that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is facilitating criminal operations linked to drug trafficking.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Clan del Golfo has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, primarily funded through illicit drug trafficking. “Today, the Department of State is designating Clan del Golfo as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” Rubio declared.
He further elaborated on the group’s profile, noting, “Based in Colombia, Clan del Golfo is a violent and powerful criminal organization with thousands of members. The group’s primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its violent activities. Clan del Golfo is responsible for terrorist attacks against public officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and civilians in Colombia.”
Also known as the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, the group has been involved in criminal activities for over a decade. It operates predominantly in Colombia, the world’s largest producer of cocaine, and is known for trafficking drugs across international borders, including into the United States.
Rubio underscored the U.S. commitment to combating such organizations, stating, “The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation and stop the campaigns of violence and terror committed by international cartels and transnational criminal organizations. We are committed to denying funding and resources to these terrorists.”
This designation highlights the group’s perceived threat to U.S. national security and could lead to increased penalties for individuals and entities providing support to the network.
In recent months, the Trump administration has conducted numerous strikes against boats suspected of drug smuggling. These operations are part of a broader strategy to dismantle narco-terrorist networks, including groups like Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and Colombia’s Ejército de Liberación Nacional, both previously designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S.