The United States has taken an important step in the fight against international organized crime
On Thursday, May 28, the U.S. State Department announced the classification of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.” Soon, starting June 5, the two groups will also be treated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
According to the statement signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the PCC and CV are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil.
They command thousands of members and have carried out brutal attacks against police officers, authorities, and civilians.
The text also highlights that the influence of these factions extends far beyond Brazilian borders, reaching other countries in the region and even the United States itself, especially through drug and arms trafficking networks.
This measure is not merely symbolic.
It has concrete practical consequences.
The classification allows for the freezing of assets in the United States and prohibits American citizens and companies from conducting any type of business or transaction with individuals linked to these groups.
Those who provide material support or resources to these organizations may face severe sanctions.
Furthermore, foreign members or representatives of these groups are barred from entering the country and may even be deported in certain situations.
In Brazil, the news generated immediate repercussions in the financial world.
A CNN report showed concern in the market about possible sanctions against banks and institutions that have had commercial relations with elements linked to organized crime.
Cases such as the REAG asset management firm and Banco Master were cited as examples of entities already under investigation.
The interpretation is that Washington may use tools to interrupt the flow of money that finances these factions, creating uncertainty about who could be targeted by future measures.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro stated that he personally asked President Donald Trump to take this action.
On the other hand, the Lula government presented arguments against the classification during a meeting with Trump, defending that, under Brazilian law, these factions are treated as common criminal organizations focused on profiting from trafficking, and not as terrorist groups.
With the American decision, the focus now turns to the real impact on financial operations.
The Trump administration reinforced that it will use all available tools to prevent the entry of illicit drugs and cut off the funding of “narcoterrorists.” The measure signals a clear hardening against transnational crime that affects not only Brazil, but also the security of the United States.
This classification places the PCC and Comando Vermelho on the same level as other global threats, reinforcing international pressure to dismantle their networks.
For the Brazilian population, which lives daily with the violence caused by these factions, the announcement represents important external support in combating a problem that has challenged the country’s authorities for years.
The future will tell what the practical scope of this decision will be, but the message from the United States is clear: organized crime will no longer have easy access to the international financial system.
Published in 05/29/2026 11h56
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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