**Washington D.C.** - In a significant intensification of its anti-narcotics strategy, the United States Treasury Department has formally designated Colombia's most formidable criminal syndicate, the Clan del Golfo, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). This move, announced on a Tuesday, occurred mere hours after President Donald Trump signed an executive order classifying the synthetic opioid fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction," signalling a broad and aggressive posture against drug trafficking and its associated violence. The dual actions underscore a heightened commitment to combating transnational criminal enterprises that fuel instability across Latin America and pose a significant threat to domestic security.
The Clan del Golfo, also known as the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), has long been identified as the country's largest cocaine-trafficking gang, with an estimated thousands of members operating across at least 20 of Colombia's departments. For decades, the organisation has been deeply entrenched in illicit activities, primarily focusing on the wholesale distribution of cocaine. However, its criminal reach extends beyond narcotics, encompassing the perilous smuggling of migrants through the notoriously challenging Darién Gap jungle, a vital transit point connecting Colombia to Panama and onward into Central America.
According to statements from US officials, the designation is a direct response to the group's pervasive criminal enterprise and its documented engagement in acts of terror. Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the organisation's culpability in launching violent assaults against Colombian public officials, law enforcement officers, military personnel, and innocent civilians. He characterised the Clan del Golfo as a "violent and powerful criminal organisation with thousands of members" whose "primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its violent activities." This characterisation frames the group not merely as a trafficking network but as a destabilising force actively engaged in terroristic tactics to maintain its dominance.
The timing of the FTO designation is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with the US Southern Command's announcement of recent lethal strikes against suspected drug-carrying vessels. Early on Tuesday, the command reported conducting new operations on three boats operating near Colombia's Pacific coast, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. These strikes, reportedly part of a broader campaign that has seen over 20 similar interdictions on boats believed to be transporting illicit substances, exemplify the administration's willingness to employ force in its anti-drug efforts. This aggressive approach, however, has already generated friction with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has publicly decried the US airstrikes, labelling them as "murder."
The broader implications of these US actions are substantial. Designating the Clan del Golfo as an FTO grants the US government enhanced tools to disrupt the group's financial networks and prosecute its members. Furthermore, the concurrent classification of fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction signals an elevated priority for tackling the opioid crisis, which has devastating consequences in the United States. This concerted effort also extends to other regions, with the US having previously designated six cartels in Mexico and two in Venezuela as terrorist entities under the current administration. These multifaceted designations and operations reflect a comprehensive, albeit contentious, strategy aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organisations and stemming the flow of narcotics, even as it risks exacerbating diplomatic tensions with key regional partners.