Seven Groups Added to Terrorist Entities List

Summary#

These final rules, titled Regulations Amending the Regulations Establishing a List of Entities, add several organised crime groups to Canada’s list of terrorist entities. The change took effect on February 19, 2025 and means the listed groups’ property can be frozen and subject to reporting and criminal restrictions under the Criminal Code.

What it does#

• Adds these groups to the prescribed list:
  • El Cartel del Golfo (CDG) (a.k.a. Gulf Cartel, Los Escorpiones, Los Ciclones, Los Rojos, Los Metros, Las Panteras)
  • La Familia Michoacana (a.k.a. Michoacán Family, La Familia, Los Caballeros Templarios, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, LNFM)
  • La Mara Salvatrucha (a.k.a. MS-13)
  • Cárteles Unidos (CU) (a.k.a. United Cartel, Cartel del Abuelo, Cartel Tepalcatepec, Los Viagras, Los Blanco De Troya, and related aliases)
  • El Cartel de Sinaloa (CDS) (a.k.a. Sinaloa Cartel, La Federación, Organización del Pacífico, Organización Guzman‑Loera)
  • Tren de Aragua (TdA) (a.k.a. Los Gollegos)
  • Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) (a.k.a. Jalisco Cartel New Generation)
• Makes the listed groups subject to terrorism-related measures in the Criminal Code, including:
  • possible seizure, restraint or forfeiture of property belonging to the listed entities;
  • reporting and blocking obligations for financial institutions so those entities cannot access or move assets;
  • criminal offences for knowingly contributing to or participating in activities that benefit a listed entity.
• The rules came into force on the day they were made (listed above).

Who's affected#

• The named groups themselves and anyone or any organisation with assets or financial ties to them in Canada.
• Canadian banks and other financial service providers, which must update lists and stop dealings involving these entities.
• Law enforcement and security agencies involved in enforcement and reporting, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
• The general public insofar as donations, business relationships or other contacts with these groups could become criminal or subject to asset freezes.
• The Gazette notice says no external public consultation was done; it does not identify other affected groups beyond those above.

Why it matters#

• If you or a business hold money, property or have dealings connected to any of the listed groups, those assets can be frozen and dealing with them can attract criminal penalties.
• Banks and other financial firms will block or report transactions linked to the listed entities, which can affect payments or accounts that touch those networks.
• The listing signals the federal government’s official position that there are reasonable grounds to link these organisations to terrorist activity, and it aligns Canada with international counter‑terrorism and anti‑financing efforts.
• The change was made quickly (no public consultation) to prevent the groups from moving assets before the listing took effect.