The U.S. Department of State announced on May 28, 2026 [1], that it will designate Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as terrorist organizations.
This move signals a significant escalation in how the U.S. government treats organized crime in Latin America. By classifying these groups as global and foreign terrorist organizations, the U.S. can employ more aggressive legal and financial tools to dismantle their operations.
The designation is scheduled to take effect on June 5, 2026 [1]. This action targets two of Brazil's most powerful criminal factions, which have long managed extensive drug trafficking networks across South America and into international markets.
According to reports, the decision is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to combat narcotrafficking [3]. The administration aims to assert military and political dominance in the Americas through these measures, a shift that moves the focus from traditional law enforcement to a counter-terrorism framework.
Government officials said the designations will allow for increased sanctions and the freezing of assets tied to the PCC and CV. The U.S. government has been studying the possibility of classifying these factions as terrorist organizations for several months [2].
The PCC and Comando Vermelho have historically operated as prison-based gangs that evolved into transnational criminal enterprises. Their influence extends beyond Brazil, impacting regional security, and stability across the continent.
U.S. officials said the move is intended to disrupt the financial pipelines that allow these groups to operate. The shift in classification may also facilitate closer intelligence sharing and joint military-police operations between the U.S. and regional partners to target the leadership of these organizations [3].
“The U.S. will designate Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as global and foreign terrorist organizations.”
The shift from 'criminal organization' to 'terrorist organization' allows the U.S. to utilize the USA PATRIOT Act and other counter-terrorism laws. This enables the Treasury Department to freeze assets of any person or entity that provides support to these groups, regardless of whether they are directly involved in crime. It effectively treats the PCC and CV as national security threats rather than mere law enforcement targets, potentially increasing U.S. intervention in Brazilian internal security matters.
