Cartel of the Soles declared as terrorist group; Noboa calls for further investigation into its activity within Ecuador

Cartel of the Soles declared as terrorist group; Noboa calls for further investigation into its activity within Ecuador

Ecuador Declares Venezuelan Cartel a Terrorist Group

In a bold move aimed at combating the rising tide of criminal violence in Ecuador, President Daniel Noboa has declared the Cartel of the Suns a terrorist organization. This decision follows a link made by the US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and drug trafficking.

The Cartel of the Suns, a transnational narco-terrorist organization with deep ties to Venezuela's military elite, has been operating and influencing criminal activity in Ecuador. The cartel's name, "Cartel of the Suns," comes from the suns insignia worn by Venezuelan military generals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

The cartel facilitates massive cocaine shipments by exploiting military air traffic codes and logistics. Key individuals linked to the cartel include former military officials and close associates of Venezuelan leadership, with some members extradited on drug trafficking charges.

Noboa's decision to declare the cartel a terrorist group is part of an "internal armed conflict" declared by him in early 2024 to confront transnational criminal groups, including the Cartel of the Suns and Venezuela-originated gangs such as Tren de Aragua and FARC dissidents.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist entity in July 2025, and Noboa's action aligns with US efforts. The US Attorney General linked Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to drug trafficking and announced a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Ecuador's national intelligence agencies are tasked to cooperate internationally to map cartel networks within Ecuador's criminal underworld. The homicide rate in Ecuador has placed it at the top of Latin America, with a trend that has worsened in 2025.

The declaration of the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist group signals a state of "internal armed conflict" in Ecuador. Noboa also declared the transnational criminal gang Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization in January of this year. He has also classified other criminal structures dissident from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as terrorists, such as the Commands of the Frontier and the Oliver Sinisterra Front.

However, the declaration of the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist group has been met with conflicting perspectives. U.S. and allied governments portray the cartel as part of a narco-terrorist threat stemming from Venezuelan state complicity. On the other hand, Venezuelan sources and some analysts view these accusations as politically motivated attempts to justify foreign intervention or destabilization policies against Venezuela.

Despite the controversy, Noboa's decision reflects regional security concerns and coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking networks tied to Venezuelan state actors. The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, declared the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist group on Thursday. Ecuador and Venezuela have broken off diplomatic relations at all levels since April.

References:

1. The Guardian
2. Wikipedia
3. Council on Foreign Relations

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