(CNN) — The United States will designate Cartel de los Soles, which the US alleges is led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials, as a foreign terrorist organization this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday.

“Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government,” the State Department said in a press release. “Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.”

The designation, which will be effective November 24, comes as the United States has ramped up its military presence in the Caribbean, including with the arrival of the wor

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