Brazil Opposes U.S. Push to Designate Criminal Factions PCC and CV as Terrorists

Message was delivered by the Ministry of Justice during meeting with U.S. diplomat

May.7.2025 1:14PM

Fábio Zanini

São Paulo
The Brazilian government told a representative of Donald Trump's (U.S.) administration that it disagrees with the American government's pressure for Brazil to classify criminal factions such as PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and CV (Comando Vermelho) as terrorist organizations.

The message was delivered during a visit by U.S. diplomat David Gamble, head of the sanctions division at the U.S. Department of State. He attended meetings on Tuesday (6) with officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Justice.

"We do not consider the factions to be terrorist organizations. First of all, because that doesn’t align with our legal system, as our factions do not act in defense of a cause or ideology. They seek profit through various illegal activities," said Mário Sarrubbo, Brazil’s National Secretary of Public Security, who did not attend the meeting.

Only lower-ranking staff members from the ministry met with the U.S. diplomat.

According to Sarrubbo, Brazil "has been taking action and actively working on public policy to combat these factions, including strengthening integration with other Latin American countries."

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/world/2025/05/brazil-opposes-us-push-to-designate-criminal-factions-pcc-and-cv-as-terrorists.shtml

(My bolding)