The U.S. government raised the international alert level by designating the Gulf Clan, one of Colombia’s most dangerous criminal groups, as a foreign terrorist organization. The decision, announced this Tuesday, December 16 by the Department of State, places this criminal organization in the same category as extremist groups of global reach.
Washington described the Gulf Clan as «a violent and powerful criminal organization with thousands of members», responsible for terrorist attacks against public officials, civilians, and security forces in Colombia and other regions.
Why does the United States consider the Clan del Golfo a terrorist organization?
According to U.S. authorities, the Gulf Clan finances its activities thru international drug trafficking, primarily by producing and shipping cocaine, resources it uses to sustain armed operations, expand its territorial influence, and promote illegal political interests.
The designation means that both the State Department and the Treasury Department will employ all their legal and financial tools to block assets, cut off cash flows, and weaken their operational capacity, following a similar approach to the sanctions imposed by former President Joe Biden’s administration against the group’s leaders.
Paramilitary origins and criminal evolution
The Gulf Clan emerged as a splinter group from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a far-right paramilitary group that operated during Colombia’s internal armed conflict, fighting both the guerrillas and the state itself.
After the partial demobilization of the AUC, this criminal organization consolidated itself as an independent structure that, far from disappearing, transformed into a highly organized criminal enterprise with territorial control and the capacity to expand.
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International expansion and ties to the Sinaloa Cartel
Since 2012, the Gulf Clan began an international expansion process, establishing contacts with the Sinaloa Cartel and other transnational criminal groups, which allowed it to strengthen its drug trafficking routes to Central America, Mexico, and the United States.
In addition to drug trafficking, authorities point out that their activities include extortion, control of illegal economies, and illegal mining in the regions they dominate, which has generated serious social and environmental impacts.
The blow against “Otoniel” and a structure that endures
The 2021 capture of Darío Antonio Úsuga, alias “Otoniel,” represented a significant blow to the organization. However, the Gulf Clan managed to remain active thanks to its structure based on self-sufficient cells, capable of operating independently and adapting to the state’s onslaught.
This flexibility has allowed the group to remain a relevant threat both nationally and internationally.
Total Peace and stalled negotiations in Colombia
Since 2022, the leaders of the Gulf Clan have expressed their intention to participate in the Total Peace process promoted by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, an initiative aimed at the demobilization of illegal armed groups.
However, the negotiations have shown limited progress. Recent reports indicate that the Colombian government is seeking prison sentences for the main leaders, a condition that has complicated the agreements due to the lack of clear legal mechanisms for this type of negotiation.
