Ecuador Declares Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles a Terrorist Group

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed Decree Executive No. 93 on Thursday classifying Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization. The order cites the group as a threat to public safety, constitutional order, and national sovereignty, and instructs the National Intelligence Center to assess its influence on domestic armed groups and determine appropriate counter-measures. The decree authorizes Ecuadorian agencies to coordinate with foreign intelligence services to combat the cartel’s activities. Quito’s move mirrors a 25 July decision by the U.S. Treasury, which labeled the cartel a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity and imposed sanctions on its assets. Washington accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and senior officials of leading the cartel in trafficking narcotics to the United States and Europe—allegations Caracas rejects. By aligning with the U.S. designation, Noboa’s government seeks to tighten regional cooperation against transnational organized crime.