8 Cartels and Gangs Designated as Terrorist Groups by Trump Administration

The Trump administration has officially designated eight notorious drug cartels and gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT), expanding the government’s tools to combat these dangerous groups. The U.S. State Department announced the move on Wednesday, signaling a major escalation in the war against narco-terrorism and transnational crime.

The newly designated terrorist organizations include:

• Tren de Aragua

• Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

• Cartel de Sinaloa

• Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG)

• Carteles Unidos

• Cartel del Noreste

• Cartel del Golfo

• La Nueva Familia Michoacana

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the designations, made in consultation with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, were grounded in a solid factual basis under the Immigration and Nationality Act. “The Trump administration is fully committed to dismantling these criminal enterprises and ensuring the safety of the American people,” Rubio stated.

What These Designations Mean:

• FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organizations): Applies to entire organizations and imposes criminal penalties for involvement with these groups.

• SDGT (Specially Designated Global Terrorists): Targets not only organizations but also individuals and financial backers, enabling the Treasury Department to impose sanctions and seize assets.

The dual designation strategy allows the administration to target both the operational and financial structures of these cartels, effectively choking off their resources and disrupting their operations.

The announcement follows news that the CIA is deploying MQ-9 Reaper drones over Mexico as part of Trump’s revitalized strategy to combat drug cartels. The drones are currently unarmed and conducting surveillance missions, but the new terrorist designations could pave the way for lethal strikes against cartel leaders and their drug manufacturing facilities.

“Countering drug cartels in Mexico and regionally is a priority for CIA as a part of the Trump Administration’s broader efforts to end the grave threat from narco-trafficking,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said.

While Mexican officials, including Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla, have downplayed the presence of CIA drones, President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled cooperation, emphasizing the importance of intelligence sharing between the U.S. and Mexican governments.

This move aligns with Trump's broader national security agenda, which prioritizes dismantling the power of drug cartels, taking a tough stance on China, and protecting American borders. The president has not ruled out deploying U.S. special forces into Mexico if necessary. “Could happen,” Trump quipped when asked about the possibility. “Stranger things have happened.”

By labeling these cartels as terrorist organizations, Trump is setting the stage for more aggressive military and legal actions against the groups fueling America’s deadly opioid crisis. The Sinaloa and CJNG cartels, for instance, are responsible for trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl into the United States, contributing to the more than 110,000 overdose deaths in 2023 alone.

This new designation could lead to enhanced military cooperation with Mexico, expanded surveillance operations, and the potential use of drone strikes to eliminate high-value cartel targets.

As the administration moves forward, expect increased pressure on the financial networks supporting these organizations. The Treasury Department's ability to freeze assets and cut off funding will be critical in dismantling the cartels’ operations.

The Trump administration’s bold action to declare cartels as terrorist organizations sends a clear message: The United States will no longer tolerate the violence, corruption, and drug trafficking that have plagued both sides of the border for decades.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on the Trump administration’s crackdown on crime and national security efforts.