The US has designated Colombia's Clan del Golfo as a terrorist organization, intensifying its efforts against drug trafficking and related violence, amid ongoing peace negotiations and regional tensions.
The United States has imposed sanctions on ten individuals involved in the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, including nine members of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and the leader of Colombia's Clan del Golfo. These actions are part of the US government's efforts to combat the global illicit drug trade, particularly the trafficking of fentanyl, which is a leading cause of death among young adults in the United States. The Department of State has also announced rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of seven of the designated individuals and is working to strengthen international cooperation in disrupting synthetic drug supply chains.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has suspended the ceasefire with the Clan del Golfo, the country's largest criminal organization, after it attacked police. The ceasefire was part of efforts to end the group's part in Colombia's internal conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez said that military forces and the national police had been given orders to develop "offensive operations against the Clan del Golfo."