U.S. to designate 2 major Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations
The United States has designated two major Brazilian criminal gangs as global terrorist groups and plans to place them on its foreign terrorist blacklist next week, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The groups, both designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) on Thursday, are Comando Vermelho, known as CV, and Primeiro Comando da Capital, known as PCC.
The State Department described them as two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil, with networks extending beyond the country.
The department said the designation can freeze assets under U.S. jurisdiction and restrict people in the United States from doing business with the groups. Rubio said the State Department also intends to designate CV and PCC as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), effective June 5.
An FTO designation can bring criminal penalties for providing material support to a listed group and allows U.S. authorities to target people or entities accused of helping them.
CV began in Rio de Janeiro’s prison system before becoming one of the dominant criminal groups in the city’s favelas, where it has long controlled drug trafficking territory and clashed with police and rival gangs.
PCC emerged from the prison system in São Paulo state and grew into Brazil’s most powerful criminal organization, with operations across South America and links to international drug trafficking routes.
The State Department said the two groups command thousands of members and have carried out “brutal” attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials and civilians.
“Their influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, across our region and into our country,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the Trump administration would use “all available tools” to disrupt criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and violence.
“Today’s action taken by the State Department further demonstrates the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels and criminal organizations in our region and ensuring the safety of the American people,” Rubio said.
The Trump administration has also designated a number of other cartels and gangs across North and South America as terrorist organizations, including groups involved in drug trafficking, extortion and organized violence.
Those designations have included six groups from Mexico: the CJNG cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, La Nueva Familia Michoacana Cartel, the Northeast Cartel and Carteles Unidos.
The administration has also designated Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles from Venezuela, Los Choneros and Los Lobos from Ecuador, and Clan del Golfo from Colombia, along with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs in Los Angeles and gangs in Haiti.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
