Brazil's PCC tops Americas criminal faction ranking, study shows

The Instituto Igarapé released a study titled “De Cartéis de Narcotráfico a Redes Criminosas: A Transformação Estrutural do Crime Organizado na América Latina e no Caribe”, ranking 20 organized‑crime groups active in the Americas between 2020 and 2026.

The Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) ranked first, with an estimated 30,000–40,000 members. It operates in cocaine and weapons trafficking, illegal mining, fuel‑sector infiltration, extortion and money‑laundering, and maintains connections across South America, Europe and Africa. The Comando Vermelho (CV) placed second with 20,000–30,000 members, focusing on territorial control, extortion, illegal arms and drug trade.

Other notable groups in the ranking include Mexico’s CJNG and Sinaloa Cartel, and the Mara Salvatrucha (MS‑13). The study highlights diversification of revenue streams, the use of drones and cryptocurrencies, and links to European ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg.