Experts say US targeting of Brazilian gangs is an attempt to sway election there

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The U.S. decision to classify two Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations is a political one aimed at boosting an ally of President Donald Trump, the son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, politicians and analysts say.The gangs join eight other Latin American organized crime groups designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations. But unlike the rest, they don’t operate in the United States.The listing of First Capital Command, known as PCC, and Red Command, or CV, followed a visit by presidential hopeful Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro to Washington last week. He said he asked Trump administration officials to extend the designation to them.Bolsonaro hopes to unseat incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October’s elections. The U.S. decision shores up the senator’s tough-on-crime credentials while highlighting Bolsonaro’s criticism of Lula’s handling of public security.

“The main driver of this decision was politics,” to pressure Lula and help Flávio prior to the October election,” said Latin America expert Brian Winter, who edits Americas Quarterly, a publication of the New York-based Council of Americas.

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