U.S. Finalizes Terrorist Designations For Brazil's Two Largest Drug Gangs
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday, May 28, that the U.S. will designate Brazil's two largest drug gangs—the First Command of the Capital (PCC) and Red Command (CV)—as foreign terrorist organizations on June 5.[1]
Until June 5 the groups are being treated as specially designated global terrorists.[1] That status immediately restricts their ability to conduct financial transactions and allows the U.S. to treat them as threats to American citizens.[1]
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro met in Washington with Rubio and briefly with President Trump roughly 24 hours before the announcement to press for the designations.[1] Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said he would view designating PCC and CV as terrorist organizations as U.S. interference favoring his electoral rival.[1] As of the article's publication he had not commented on Rubio's announcement.[1]
PCC and CV together likely have more than 50,000 members, operate primarily from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and have extensive networks throughout South America and into Europe.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally announced that Brazil's First Command of the Capital (PCC) and Red Command (CV) will be designated foreign terrorist organizations as of June 5, 2026 (Secretary of State Marco Rubio).
- Until June 5, 2026, the groups are being treated as specially designated global terrorists, a status that immediately restricts their ability to conduct financial transactions and treats them as threats to U.S. citizens (specially designated global terrorists).
- The announcement came roughly 24 hours after Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro met in Washington with Rubio and briefly with President Trump to advocate for the designations (Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro).
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said he would view designating PCC and CV as terrorist organizations as U.S. interference favoring his electoral rival, but as of the article's publication he had not commented on Rubio's announcement (Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva).
- PCC and CV together likely have more than 50,000 members, operate primarily from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and maintain extensive networks throughout South America and into Europe (PCC and CV).
- PBS News reported these developments on Friday, May 29, 2026 (PBS News).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Thursday, May 28, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally announced that Brazil's First Command of the Capital (PCC) and Red Command (CV) will be designated foreign terrorist organizations as of June 5, 2026.
- Until June 5, 2026, the gangs are being treated as specially designated global terrorists, immediately restricting their ability to conduct financial transactions by treating them as threats to U.S. citizens.
- The announcement came roughly 24 hours after Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro met in Washington with Rubio and briefly with President Trump to advocate for the designations.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has previously said he would view designating PCC and CV as terrorist organizations as U.S. interference favoring his electoral rival, but as of the article's publication he had not commented on Rubio's announcement.
- The article reiterates that PCC and CV together likely have more than 50,000 members, operate primarily from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and have extensive networks throughout South America and into Europe.