Narcoterrorism

Narcoterrorism, in its original context, is understood to be the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of a government or a society through violence and intimidation, and to hinder the enforcement of anti-drug laws by the systematic threat or use of such violence. The term has become a subject of controversy, largely due to its use in discussing violent opposition to the US government's war on drugs.

Pablo Escobar's violence in his dealings with the Colombian government is probably one of the most known and best documented examples of narcoterrorism. The Medellín Cartel was one of the first criminal organizations to be formally classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, and its use has become widely relevant in the 21st century, particularly from 2025 onwards following the deployment of US naval troops in the Caribbean in the context of Operation Southern Spear.