US Designates Two Brazilian Criminal Groups as Terrorist Organisations, Lula Fumes
The United States (US) has designated two Brazilian criminal groups, Red Command (CV) and First Capital Command (PCC), as terrorist organisations. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reacted strongly.
According to AFP, on Saturday, 30 May 2026, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation in a statement. Rubio stated that CV and PCC are the most brutal criminal organisations in Brazil.
“CV and PCC are the two most brutal criminal organisations in Brazil. Their influence and illegal networks extend far beyond Brazil’s borders, crossing our region and entering our country,” Rubio said.
“Together, they control thousands of members and have orchestrated brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians,” Rubio added.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has clearly expressed his opposition to the move, which carries significant legal implications in the US.
Lula’s main rival in upcoming elections, conservative Flavio Bolsonaro, has supported the designation. Bolsonaro met with US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
The US began designating criminal gangs such as Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels as terrorist organisations when Trump took office in January 2025.
Under the Trump administration’s view, the terrorist label legally enables broader law enforcement, intelligence, and counter-insurgency actions against the groups, their leaders, and their global interests.
In October, Brazilian security forces conducted a major raid on CV, resulting in at least 119 deaths—the country’s deadliest operation. Minor clashes occur regularly.
In Portuguese, CV is known as Comando Vermelho and PCC as Primeiro Comando da Capital.
Since late summer 2025, the US has carried out dozens of air strikes against Latin American vessels suspected of drug trafficking and linked to terrorist organisations.
Countries like Mexico and Brazil, led by centre-left leaders, have vocally opposed the designation, while others such as Ecuador and Honduras, under right-wing governments, have supported it.
Lula Fumes
Brazilian President Lula da Silva condemned Washington for designating the country’s two largest criminal factions as terrorist groups. He warned the US not to meddle with Brazil’s democracy.
“We will not be treated like children. We will not be treated as if we are an insignificant small republic,” Lula angrily stated at an event in northeastern Brazil.
Both groups emerged in Brazilian prisons and have expanded nationwide, controlling vast areas such as Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. They are involved in drug and arms trafficking as well as extortion.
“They are terrorists because they torture families, they torture communities, and they torture cities. We will fight them here, on home soil,” Lula said.
“They are not the kind of terrorists Trump is after. Trump wants someone like Osama bin Laden,” he added.
Brasilia has long opposed the terrorist label. The designation is seen as a clear insult to Lula, who held a lengthy meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier this month which both sides described as positive.
“I spent three hours with President Trump—three full hours,” Lula said angrily, adding that he had submitted documents to the president specifically addressing organised crime eradication.
“Do not mess with this nation’s sovereignty. Do not mess with our democracy,” he added.
The US and Brazil signed an agreement in April to combat arms and drug trafficking.
“If you want to fight organised crime, hand over our criminals who are in the US,” Lula said, highlighting that weapons from the US are being “smuggled into Brazil”.