US designates Colombian cocaine gang a terrorist group

December 16, 2025

The United States has officially designated Colombia's Clan del Golfo, a major drug-trafficking organization, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, marking an escalation in the Trump administration's aggressive anti-drug campaign. This designation allows the US to freeze the group's assets and prosecute those providing support, complicating recent peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the organization. The move coincides with President Trump signing an executive order classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and follows controversial lethal strikes on suspected drug vessels that have killed over 90 people.

Who is affected

Clan del Golfo organization and its thousands of members
Colombian government and President Gustavo Petro
US financial institutions holding Clan del Golfo assets
US citizens who may provide support to the group
Public officials, law enforcement, military personnel, and civilians in Colombia
Migrants being smuggled through the Darién Gap
Over 90 people killed in US strikes on suspected drug boats
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum

What action is being taken

The US Treasury Department is adding Clan del Golfo to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The US is freezing any Clan del Golfo assets held at US financial institutions
The Trump administration is carrying out lethal strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific
Colombian government officials are having talks with armed groups including Clan del Golfo

Why it matters

This designation significantly escalates US involvement in Latin American drug policy and creates major diplomatic friction with regional allies. It undermines Colombia's domestic peace process by threatening extradition protections promised to Clan del Golfo members, potentially derailing negotiations aimed at ending decades of violence. The classification of fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and the ongoing lethal strikes represent an unprecedented militarization of drug policy that raises legal and humanitarian concerns. The focus on cocaine-producing nations like Colombia and Venezuela appears misaligned with the actual fentanyl crisis, which experts note originates elsewhere, suggesting the administration's strategy may not effectively address the root causes of over 110,000 annual US drug deaths.

What's next

President Trump has warned that "strikes on land" against "narco-terrorists" could follow the maritime strikes, explicitly mentioning Colombia's "three cocaine factories" as potential targets. Trump indicated these land strikes would not be limited to Venezuela but would target "horrible people that are bringing in drugs." No other explicit next steps are stated regarding the specific implementation of the FTO designation or how it will affect ongoing Colombian peace negotiations.

Read full article from source: BBC