The U.S. State Department has designated two of Brazil’s deadliest criminal syndicates as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), expanding its counterterrorism efforts into the Americas. On May 28, 2026, Secretary Marco Rubio announced the move targeting Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital—known internationally as the PCC. Both groups are now also set to be formally classified as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) effective June 5, 2026, following Federal Register publication.

Rubio stated that these organizations represent some of the most violent criminal entities in Brazil, with extensive reach across South America and into U.S. territory. The official designation cites their command of thousands of members and a history of orchestrating brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, public officials, and civilians. U.S. authorities will leverage the terror label to freeze assets, disrupt funding networks, and dismantle support structures for these groups.

The decision followed a meeting between President Trump and Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who publicly urged the administration to classify the syndicates as terrorist entities. Bolsonaro praised the move, stating that Brazil’s law-abiding citizens are grateful for the commitment and that “the fight belongs to all of us.”

Brazilian authorities have already launched financial operations targeting money-laundering networks linked to PCC activities, intensifying pressure on the organizations. While President Lula da Silva’s government opposes the designation—arguing the groups constitute criminal enterprises rather than ideologically driven terrorists—the U.S. administration asserts its commitment to protecting national security through this legal framework.

The move marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s strategy to address transnational narco-terror threats, applying existing tools from counterterrorism law enforcement to combat organizations spanning multiple nations.