U.S. Designates 2 Brazilian Gangs as Terrorists After Bolsonaro Sons' White House Push
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 29
U.S. Designates 2 Brazilian Gangs as Terrorists After Bolsonaro Sons' White House Push
16 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 29
Thursday's designation puts Brazil's First Capital Command and Red Command on the U.S. terrorist list effective June 5, marking a formal escalation against the country's two biggest drug gangs.
Tuesday's White House visit by two sons of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro preceded the move; Flávio Bolsonaro said he again asked Donald Trump to classify the groups as terrorists.
The State Department said the gangs' illicit networks reach beyond Brazil into the United States, operating in more than a dozen states and posing a public-safety threat.
The decision also carries political weight in Brazil, where Flávio Bolsonaro plans to run for president later this year in place of his father.
Will US sanctions on Brazil's crime groups cripple its legitimate economy?
Can labeling Brazil's powerful gangs 'terrorists' actually curb their global reach?
U.S. Declares Brazil’s PCC and CV Terrorist Groups: Impacts on Crime, Politics, and Society in 2026
Overview
Brazil’s two most powerful criminal groups, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), have grown from prison gangs into major transnational criminal organizations. The CV began in the 1970s as a self-protection group for inmates and expanded its criminal activities in the 1980s, while the PCC has aggressively extended its influence across South America, taking advantage of weak prison systems and limited experience in fighting organized crime. On May 28, 2026, the United States officially designated both groups as terrorist organizations, marking a turning point in international efforts to address their expanding reach and impact.