Brazilian judicial actions against criminal faction leaders

Legal proceedings involving leaders of major Brazilian criminal factions, including the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), have continued through the judiciary.

In September 2026, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court denied a habeas corpus petition for gang leaders Marcola and Fernandinho Beira-Mar. The petition sought to move the individuals to a secure, undisclosed location due to alleged risks of kidnapping by the United States CIA. This request followed the June 2026 designation of the PCC and CV as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. Justice Edson Fachin denied the request, noting a lack of concrete evidence for the Court to analyze.

Concurrently, the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice ruled to keep Comando Vermelho leader Marcinho VP in federal prison. Although some of his previous sentences were extinguished in April, two active preventive arrest warrants issued by state courts remain in effect. The Rio de Janeiro Public Ministry requested his continued detention within the federal system to ensure security and prevent him from re-establishing direct command channels within communities under the faction's influence. Marcinho VP, who has been incarcerated for 30 years, is currently held at the Campo Grande Federal Prison in Mato Grosso do Sul.