The US State Department just put Brazil’s two most powerful criminal organizations on the same list as groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. That’s not hyperbole. It’s federal policy.
On May 28, 2026, the department designated Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order 13224. The formal Foreign Terrorist Organization designation takes effect June 5, 2026, making CV and PCC the first Brazilian entities ever placed on the US FTO list.
What the designations actually mean
The SDGT label automatically triggers blocking sanctions, meaning any assets these organizations hold within US jurisdiction are frozen. Any US person or entity that knowingly provides material support faces criminal prosecution under federal anti-terrorism statutes.
The PCC was already subject to counter-narcotics sanctions under Executive Order 14059, first imposed in December 2021. A key PCC operative was sanctioned in March 2024 in connection with laundering involving $240 million. But the terrorism designation represents a significant escalation, expanding the scope of prohibited transactions and dramatically increasing penalties for violations.
