Argentina designates three Ecuador gangs as ‘terrorist groups’

Argentina has officially classified three Ecuadorian criminal organizations as "terrorist groups," following a meeting between President Daniel Noboa and his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, in Quito. The three groups named are Los Lobos, Los Choneros, and Chone Killers. This decision was made in support of Ecuador's fight against transnational organized crime, according to the Ecuadorean Presidency. The United States has already designated these groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

The designation carries significant consequences, as leaders and associates of these groups may face sanctions and criminal charges in the United States. Both Noboa and Milei have taken aggressive measures against criminal gangs, including curfews and military deployment in several provinces as part of a Washington-backed offensive.

Ecuador has been grappling with unprecedented levels of violence, with 51 killings per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025. The country is also plagued by illegal mining, kidnapping, and extortion, with gang activity centered around drug trafficking routes. Noboa and Milei discussed various security, trade, and extradition matters during their meeting, including the implementation of a previous agreement on combating organized crime and an extradition treaty.

The presidents emphasized the convergence of their governments' priorities on security and defense in the fight against drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. They also signed agreements related to tariff preferences for vehicle trade, air transport relations, and scientific cooperation on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.