The U.S. Department of State designated the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on June 5, 2024 [1, 2].

This designation shifts the legal status of these Brazilian criminal groups, allowing the U.S. government to deploy more aggressive financial and legal tools to disrupt their transnational operations. By classifying these entities as terrorists rather than simple criminal gangs, the U.S. targets the infrastructure used to move illicit funds, and weapons across borders.

The official designation was published in the Federal Register, the government's daily journal of record [1, 2]. This move is part of a broader strategy to combat transnational criminal activity, and the specific forms of terrorism linked to these organizations [1, 2].

With the addition of these two Brazilian groups [1], the United States now recognizes more than 90 foreign terrorist organizations worldwide [1]. The PCC and CV are among the most powerful criminal networks in South America, often controlling drug trafficking routes that extend into the Northern Hemisphere.

Under the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation, the U.S. can freeze assets and prohibit U.S. persons from providing material support to the groups. The move signals a heightened security priority regarding the influence of South American organized crime on global stability.

The State Department said the classification is necessary to combat the reach of these organizations. The Federal Register serves as the formal mechanism for these legal changes, ensuring that all government agencies, and financial institutions are aware of the new restrictions [1, 2].

“The U.S. Department of State designated the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”

This designation marks a significant escalation in how the U.S. views Brazilian organized crime. By moving these groups from a criminal classification to a terrorist one, the U.S. government can employ the Patriot Act and other counter-terrorism laws to freeze assets and prosecute supporters. This suggests that the U.S. perceives the PCC and CV not just as drug trafficking entities, but as strategic threats to international security.