The United States on Thursday (28) designated CV (Comando Vermelho) and PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) as terrorist organizations, a measure that takes effect on June 5. The decision comes after Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro visited Donald Trump, Marco Rubio and JD Vance in Washington. Secretary Rubio said the groups "are the most dangerous in Brazil" and that their reach extends across the region and into the United States.
The designation had been expected and was attributed by The New York Times to lobbying by sons of former President Jair Bolsonaro. After hearing Flávio’s request, Trump reportedly told aides: "We have to help these guys."
The government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tried to prevent the designation, fearing U.S. interference and electoral political exploitation. Celso Amorim said that "equating organized crime with terrorism is not useful." Brazil disputes the designation because its anti-terrorism law restricts the term to acts motivated by xenophobia or prejudice.
With the designation, support for the factions, financing tied to them and the entry of members into the United States become criminal offenses. U.S. banks will have to freeze funds linked to the groups. CV and PCC already operate in every Brazilian state and in dozens of countries.
