The U.S. State Department designated Brazil’s criminal groups Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as globally designated specially terrorist organizations [1].

This classification shifts the legal framework for addressing these groups from standard criminal prosecution to counter-terrorism measures. The move signals a heightened U.S. priority in combating transnational crime that originates in South America and extends globally.

The announcement was made on May 28, 2024 [1]. The U.S. government said the involvement of the PCC and CV in transnational criminal activities was the primary reason for the terrorist label [1].

Priscila Gama Turchetto, an international law specialist, criticized the move during an interview with CNN Brazil. Turchetto said that classifying crime as transnational is a shame [1]. She said that the label reflects a failure to address the root causes of organized crime within Brazil [1].

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also addressed the situation. He said he did not discuss the classification of the PCC and CV as terrorist organizations with Donald Trump [2].

Lula said that he and Trump met for three hours [2]. Despite the length of the meeting, the president said the specific terrorist designations were not part of their conversation [2].

The PCC and CV are two of the most powerful criminal organizations in Brazil. Their operations often include drug trafficking, and money laundering that cross international borders — activities the U.S. is now treating as threats to global security [1].

“Classificar crime como transnacional é vergonha.”

The designation of the PCC and CV as terrorist organizations allows the U.S. to utilize more aggressive financial sanctions and intelligence-gathering tools. However, the friction between the U.S. security approach and Brazilian legal perspectives suggests potential diplomatic tension regarding how Brazil's internal security crises are framed on the world stage.