US sanctions Brazilian individuals and firms over alleged PCC links

The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on two Brazilian nationals, three Brazil‑based companies and a Portuguese firm for alleged ties to the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), which the United States now labels a transnational criminal organization. The sanctions target Victor Henrique de Oliveira Shimada, described as the leader of a São Paulo PCC cell that coordinated money‑laundering operations through the U.S. financial system, moving more than $30 million via cryptocurrencies, and Stella Stefanie Nunes Henrique de Oliveira, identified as a close associate. The companies sanctioned are Victory Trading Intermediação de Negócios, Cobranças e Tecnologia, Pixwave Soluções de Pagamentos, Wave Construções Inteligentes and Portugal’s Avenidas Flutuantes Unipessoal. All assets under U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and U.S. persons are prohibited from conducting transactions with the listed parties. OFAC noted this is the third round of sanctions against the PCC since 2021, citing its involvement in drug trafficking, money‑laundering and contraband operations.