Brazilian Gangs Clash Over Drug Routes in Bolivia

The Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho, Brazil's two largest criminal organizations, are engaged in a violent struggle for control of narcotics trafficking corridors in Bolivia. Police in Bolivia's Santa Cruz department reported nine murders in five days, describing the surge as a "wave of crime" linked to the gangs' rivalry.

Bolivian police chief David Gómez said, "Se trata de una pugna de poder entre estas dos facciones, como es el PCC y el Comando Vermelho," and noted that the groups aim to seize the mid‑level drug routes used to move narcotics toward Brazil and Paraguay. In response, authorities have seized a clandestine drug trail and deployed forces along the entire border.

Bolivian Minister of Government Marco Antonio Oviedo announced a new bilateral security arrangement: a permanent Brazilian Federal Police office will operate in Bolivia, while Bolivian police will be stationed in Brazil to maintain a continuous intelligence flow. "Va a haber Policía Boliviana en el Brasil para tener un flujo de inteligencia y de información continuo," he said.