Brief

Argentina designates five Latin American groups as terrorist organizations

President Javier Milei’s government listed the Sinaloa cartel, Nueva Familia Michoacana, Los Tiguerones, ELN and FARC‑EP as terrorist groups.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 10:18:24 GMT

Argentina announced on Thursday that it has designated five Latin American criminal and guerrilla groups as terrorist organizations, according to the Independent.

What happened

The decision, published in the official gazette, includes Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, the Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel, Ecuador’s Los Tiguerones gang, Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) and the dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia‑People’s Army (FARC‑EP). The government said the groups are linked to drug trafficking, organized crime and, for the ELN and FARC‑EP, far‑left insurgency.

What the report adds

The Independent notes that the move aligns Argentina with U.S. security policy; a month earlier the Trump administration expanded its list of Latin American terrorist designations to 21 groups, including all five now named by Argentina. It also mentions a recent U.S. State Department regional unit established in Argentina and a $13.35 million U.S. approval to combat drug trafficking.

What was said

In a statement released by Milei’s office, the five groups were described as involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping for ransom, contract killings and armed revolution.

How it came about

The designations follow earlier Argentine actions that added Venezuela’s Cartel of the Suns, Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel and three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood to a national terrorism registry. Regional trends include Ecuador’s 2024 designation of 22 crime groups and Guatemala’s 2025 law changes targeting gangs.

Key facts

Argentina designated five groups as terrorist organizations (independent.co.uk)
The groups include the Sinaloa cartel, Nueva Familia Michoacana, Los Tiguerones, ELN and FARC‑EP (independent.co.uk)
The move mirrors a recent U.S. expansion of its own terrorist list to 21 Latin American groups (independent.co.uk)
Argentina’s government linked the groups to drug trafficking, kidnapping, contract killings and insurgency (independent.co.uk)
The U.S. approved $13.35 million for anti‑drug efforts in Argentina (independent.co.uk)