US designates Brazil's CV and PCC gangs as foreign terrorist organizations

The United States State Department announced that the criminal groups Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) will be listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, effective 5 June 2026. The designation, disclosed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, labels the two gangs—among Brazil’s most violent drug‑trafficking networks with thousands of members—as “foreign terrorist organizations” and triggers entry bans, financial sanctions and potential criminal prosecution for anyone providing material support.

The move follows a visit by right‑wing Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, who asked President Trump to declare the groups terrorist. Brazil’s centre‑left government has protested the designation, warning it could lead to U.S. military action on Brazilian soil. The United States says the action is part of its broader anti‑narcoterrorism strategy aimed at disrupting the gangs’ transnational operations.

The designation does not cite specific incidents inside the United States, but notes the groups’ influence extends beyond Brazil’s borders throughout the region and into the U.S.