US labels Brazil's PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist groups, prompting debate and arrest

The United States designated Brazil's criminal factions Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on June 5. A Brazilian poll found a majority of respondents support the classification, reflecting growing public concern over organized crime's impact on security and the economy.

Analysts describe these groups as part of a “fourth sector” that operates outside the legal economy, controlling drug trafficking, illegal fuel, gold mining and other markets, and often substituting state functions in underserved communities. Legal scholars argue the US designation does not violate Brazil’s sovereignty, noting that Brazilian law currently lacks a terrorism definition that covers profit‑driven criminal groups.

On the same day, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Felipe Linares de Oliveira Dell Aquilla, identified as a former leader of both PCC and CV, in North Carolina. He faces state criminal charges, a federal immigration detainer, and an international arrest warrant from Brazil.