Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the U.S. Department of State to designate three Colombian criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). In his letter, Moreno cited the groups’ involvement in assassinations, violent attacks, intimidation campaigns, narco-trafficking, and armed confrontations.
“Most critically, these groups help kill Americans. Their drug trafficking operations are directly responsible for the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities, including those in Ohio,” wrote Senator Moreno. “Furthermore, these gangs only seek to strengthen their affiliations with transnational criminal and terrorist networks, including Mexican cartels, which pose an ever-escalating threat to our homeland security.”
Moreno argued that designating these organizations as FTOs would provide American authorities with more effective tools to disrupt their financial and logistical operations. He also stated that such action would assist in bringing members and supporters of these groups to justice and enhance protection for American citizens.
“These organizations clearly meet the legal standard for designation. Taking this step will equip American authorities with stronger tools to disrupt these groups’ financial and logistical networks, help bring members and those who support them to justice and protect the American people from these terrorist organizations. I hope you will help me send a clear message to Colombia and the region— that the United States will act decisively against terrorism and organized violence that impacts the safety of American citizens,” Moreno wrote.
The letter was also sent to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
