Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Paraguayan President Santiago Peña has signed a decree designating Brazil's criminal groups Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital, or PCC, as terrorist organizations "because of their actions that threaten Paraguay's national sovereignty and institutional stability."
The decree says the designation aligns with a state policy reaffirming the country's commitment to democracy, the rule of law and national sovereignty. It also allows for tougher penalties and strengthens international cooperation on security and extradition.
"For us, there is no doubt that these are criminal groups seeking to destabilize countries, and we must confront them," Peña said on TV Paraguay.
The move follows a major operation by Brazil's state police targeting organized crime in two Rio de Janeiro favelas, which left more than 120 people dead, many of them believed to be members of Comando Vermelho. Brazilian authorities described it as one of the deadliest anti-crime operations in recent years.
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