(AFP) – The United States on Thursday designated two well-known Brazilian crime groups, the so-called Red Command (CV) and First Capital Command (PCC), as terrorist organizations, despite opposition from Brasilia.
“CV and PCC are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. “Their influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, across our region and into our country.”
“Together, they command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians,” Rubio said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has made clear his opposition to this measure, which has broad legal implications in the United States. Lula’s main rival in upcoming elections, conservative Flavio Bolsonaro, has supported the designation. Bolsonaro met with US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
The US began designating criminal gangs — such as Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels — as terrorists when Trump entered office in January 2025. In the Trump administration’s view, the terrorist label makes it legally possible to undertake broader action — law enforcement, intelligence and counterinsurgency efforts — against the groups, their leaders and interests worldwide.
In October, Brazilian security forces conducted a massive raid on CV, resulting in at least 119 deaths — the country’s deadliest such operation. Smaller clashes happen regularly. In Portuguese, CV is known as “Comando Vermelho” and PCC is called “Primeiro Comando da Capital.”
Since late summer 2025, the US has conducted dozens of airstrikes on boats originating from Latin America that it alleged were trafficking narcotics and belonged to terrorist organizations. Countries such as Mexico and Brazil, with center-left leaders, have been vocal in opposing the designations, while others like Ecuador and Honduras, helmed by right-leaning governments, have supported them.
The Brazilian presidential election will take place in October, with recent polling showing Lula ahead of Bolsonaro but not commanding a majority of the vote needed to avoid a run-off.
© 2024 AFP
