Lula Government Rejects US Request to Classify PCC and CV as Terrorist Groups

In a meeting held in Brasília on Tuesday (6), the Brazilian government, represented by technicians from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), rejected the United States' proposal to classify the criminal factions Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as terrorist organizations.

The American delegation, led by David Gamble, acting head of the State Department's sanctions coordination, argued that such designation would allow for the application of more severe sanctions against these factions, facilitating actions to combat transnational organized crime.

However, the national secretary of Public Security, Mario Sarrubbo, clarified that, according to Brazilian law, the term "terrorism" is reserved for acts motivated by ideological, political or religious reasons. He stated: "We do not consider the factions to be terrorist organizations. Firstly, because this does not fit into our legal system, since our laws define terrorism as violent actions with specific motivations, not covering crimes for profit."

During the meeting, the American representatives mentioned that the FBI identified the presence of members of the PCC and the CV in 12 US states, including New York, Florida and New Jersey. They claimed that these factions use American territory for activities such as money laundering and arms trafficking.

In addition, it was highlighted that, in 2024, 113 Brazilians had their visas denied due to suspected involvement with these criminal organizations.

The Brazilian government's refusal to comply with the US request highlights the differences in legal and political approaches between the two countries in combating organized crime. While the US seeks to expand the definition of terrorism to include criminal factions, Brazil maintains a narrower interpretation, focused on the motivations behind criminal acts.