Brazil elections: Organized crime and US terrorist designations

Public security has emerged as a central issue in Brazil’s upcoming presidential elections. The political landscape is being reshaped by recent actions from the United States, which designated Brazil’s two most dominant criminal factions—the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho—as terrorist organizations.

This marks the first time Brazilian criminal groups have been included on such lists. The designations have added a new dimension to the electoral debate, intersecting the fight against organized crime with domestic political competition and diplomatic relations between Brazil and Washington. Analysts are also examining the sophisticated financial networks used by the PCC to launder money through banks, fintechs, and cryptocurrencies.