The key facts

  • Los Lorenzanas were designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and SDGT by the US State Department
  • Los Huistas and Los Mendoza were added by the Treasury Department to the SDGT list for supporting cartels already under US sanctions
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Los Lorenzanas one of the most influential drug clans in Guatemala

Washington places three Guatemalan groups on terrorist lists

The United States on Thursday applied terrorist designations to three groups based in Guatemala. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said these structures have 'deep ties to Mexican cartels' and help move and export illegal drugs, financing terrorism and criminal activity through this.

Division of roles between agencies

The State Department designated Los Lorenzanas simultaneously as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as an SDGT — a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Rubio described it as 'one of the most influential drug clans in Guatemala,' responsible, in his words, for numerous acts of violence against civilians, government officials, and military personnel in the country.

Treasury sanctions against the two other groups

The US Treasury Department added Los Huistas and Los Mendoza to the SDGT list for providing material support to Mexican cartels that have already been designated by the United States. Thus, of the three groups, only Los Lorenzanas received the strictest FTO status, while the other two fell under Treasury sanctions.