The United States Department of State has officially designated several major criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) in an effort to combat international violence and terror. The groups targeted in this move include Tren de Aragua (TdA), Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (CDN), La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM), Cártel de Golfo (CDG), and Cárteles Unidos (CU).
On Thursday, the US State Department stated that these groups are responsible for a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and the assassination of government officials. The U.S. government aims to isolate these organizations by blocking their access to the U.S. financial system, making it harder for them to carry out violent operations.
The TdA, originally from Venezuela, has spread across several countries, including Colombia, Peru, and Chile, and is responsible for numerous violent acts, including the murder of a Venezuelan opposition figure. MS-13, initially based in Los Angeles, has expanded to Central America, where it engages in violent attacks against government officials and civilians. Other designated groups, such as the Cártel de Sinaloa and CJNG, are major players in the global drug trade and are known for their violent tactics against civilians and law enforcement officials.
The U.S. State Department emphasized that these designations would enhance law enforcement efforts and prevent these organizations from further destabilizing the region. Under the designation, assets of these groups within the U.S. will be frozen, and U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting transactions with them.
This action, taken under the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, is a significant step toward addressing transnational crime and violence.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
