US Expands Terrorist Designation to Two Additional Mexican Cartels
The United States has added two more Mexican criminal organizations—the Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras—to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). The designation was published in the Federal Register, increasing the total number of Mexican cartels on the U.S. terrorist list to eight.
According to U.S. officials, the move is intended to strengthen efforts against transnational criminal networks that are considered threats to national security, foreign policy interests, and the safety of U.S. citizens.
Why the Designation Matters
The terrorist designation allows U.S. authorities to impose tougher legal and financial restrictions on the organizations and anyone found to be supporting them. It also expands the government’s ability to investigate, prosecute, and disrupt the operations of these criminal groups.
The policy follows a broader initiative launched in 2025 to treat major Latin American drug cartels as terrorist organizations, enabling stronger enforcement tools against cross-border organized crime.
Juárez Cartel and Los Viagras Under Increased Pressure
The Juárez Cartel has long been one of Mexico’s most established drug trafficking organizations, controlling key smuggling routes through Ciudad Juárez along the U.S.-Mexico border near El Paso, Texas. Despite years of law enforcement action against its leadership, the group continues to maintain an active trafficking network.
Los Viagras, based in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, has been linked to drug trafficking, extortion, and violent territorial conflicts. The organization has shifted alliances over the years while remaining a significant player in the region’s organized crime landscape.
The latest designations are expected to increase pressure on criminal organizations operating in Mexico while further strengthening the United States’ legal framework for combating international cartel activity.
