Trump administration cracks down on Brazil’s biggest drug gangs with ‘global terror’ designation The U.S. State Department has designated two of Brazil’s largest drug gangs, First Command of the Capital (PCC) and Red Command (CV), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and intends to designate them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This action by the Trump administration aims to disrupt their influence and illicit networks that extend beyond Brazil’s borders and impact U.S. national security. The designation was supported by Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro but opposed by the current Brazilian government, which classifies the groups as heavily armed criminal enterprises rather than ideologically motivated terrorists.

• The U.S. State Department is designating PCC and CV as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) and intends to designate them as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
• These two syndicates are described as two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil with over 50,000 members combined.
• The Trump administration aims to disrupt their revenue streams funding violent narco-terrorists and protect U.S. national security interests.
• Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro urged the U.S. administration to designate the gangs as terrorist entities.
• Brazil’s current government opposes the designation, arguing they are criminal enterprises, not terrorist groups.
• Recent Brazilian investigations have uncovered billions of reais moved through fintech firms and shell structures linked to PCC operations, including infiltration of the fuel industry.