The Brazilian federal government launched the "Brasil contra o Crime Organizado" program on April 12, 2026, at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília [1, 2].
This initiative represents a significant escalation in the state's effort to dismantle the financial and operational structures of criminal factions. By targeting the infrastructure of these groups, the government aims to reduce the overall influence of organized crime across the country [2, 5].
The program is supported by a funding allocation of R$11 billion [1]. These resources are intended to asphyxiate the activities of criminal organizations and weaken their grip on various regions of Brazil [2, 5].
To bolster the domestic effort, Brazil has established a cooperation agreement with the U.S. to fight organized crime [3, 4]. This partnership focuses on intelligence sharing, and joint strategies to disrupt the transnational networks that facilitate the movement of illicit goods and capital [3, 4].
The launch took place during a ceremony at the Palácio do Planalto, the official workplace of the president [1]. While some early reports from Agência Brasil suggested the date was not yet finalized, the event proceeded on Tuesday, April 12 [1, 6].
The strategy involves a coordinated approach across federal agencies to target the financial assets of criminal leaders. By cutting off the flow of money, the government intends to limit the ability of these factions to recruit members, and purchase weaponry [2, 5].
“The program is supported by a funding allocation of R$11 billion.”
The scale of the R$11 billion investment and the formal alliance with the US signal a shift toward a more aggressive, financially-focused strategy against gangs. By prioritizing the 'asphyxiation' of criminal assets over traditional street-level policing, Brazil is attempting to treat organized crime as a systemic financial threat rather than just a public safety issue.
