US declares three Guatemalan gangs to be terrorist groups, imposes sanctions
The Trump administration has designated three Guatemalan gangs—Los Lorenzanas, Los Huistas, and Los Mendoza—as terrorist groups, imposing sanctions against them. The administration claims these gangs finance their violent operations through drug trafficking. Los Lorenzanas has been labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization, while the other two are classified as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Both classifications subject the groups and their members to U.S. sanctions, including asset freezes. The decision comes as the U.S. aims to curb illicit drug flows and disrupt the revenue of violent narcoterrorists. Guatemalan authorities accuse Los Huistas of having support from local politicians and businesspeople, and of ties with Mexican drug cartels, primarily the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Los Lorenzana, operating in eastern and northern Guatemala, is alleged to be allied with the Sinaloa Cartel. Los Mendoza, concentrated along the borders of Guatemala with Honduras and Belize, is known for violent land seizures in the regions it controls.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
