WASHINGTON, July 1 -- The U.S. Department of State issued the following transcript of remarks by the U.S. Secretary of State:
Press Statement
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
July 1, 2026
Today, the U.S. Department of State is designating Chone Killers as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
Chone Killers is an Ecuadorian gang that has committed numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and government officials, including high-profile assassinations of public officials. Chone Killers originated as a faction of Los Choneros - a designated FTO and SDGT - before splintering into a separate group in 2020.
The Trump Administration, in partnership with Ecuador and Pr...