The U.S. Department of State announced on May 28, 2026, that Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital—known collectively as the PCC—are now designated Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), with plans to classify both groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) effective June 5, 2026.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a formal statement that the two groups represent some of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil, operating across regional borders and extending their reach into the United States. The designations follow reports that both syndicates command thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians.
The State Department emphasized that these groups’ influence spans beyond Brazil, with illicit networks affecting U.S. national security interests. Under current law, the terror labels empower authorities to freeze assets, disrupt funding streams, and target support structures sustaining such organizations.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro publicly praised the move after a Washington meeting with President Trump, stating, “O povo brasileiro de bem agradece a atenção e o compromisso do @SecRubio e do @realDonaldTrump . Essa luta é de todos nós. Vamos dar um basta nesses grupos! O Brasil merece ter paz! O Brasil tem futuro!” (Brazil’s law-abiding people thank the Secretary Rubio and President Trump for attention and commitment. This fight belongs to all of us. Let’s end this now with these groups! Brazil deserves peace! Brazil has a future!).
The designation faces opposition from Lula da Silva’s government, which argues the gangs constitute criminal enterprises rather than ideologically driven terrorist entities. Separately, Brazilian authorities have initiated financial actions targeting money-laundering networks linked to PCC operations.
The State Department clarified that FTO designations will take effect upon Federal Register publication and represent a continuation of efforts to dismantle violent cartels in the region while safeguarding national security interests.
