Lula Rejects US Terror Label for Brazil’s PCC and Red Command Gangs

The Guardian reported Friday that the United States formally designated Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations as foreign terrorist groups, a move that has deepened tensions between Washington and Brasília ahead of a consequential Brazilian election.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designations on Thursday. He named the First Capital Command, known as the PCC, and the Red Command as targets. Rubio described them as among the most violent criminal networks in the Western Hemisphere, with reach extending into the United States.

Lula Calls the Move a Sovereignty Violation

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had vocally opposed the classification for months. He argued that Brazil already actively fights both organizations and that a foreign terrorist label represents an unacceptable intrusion on national sovereignty. Notably, just hours before Rubio’s announcement, Brazilian federal police launched a fresh operation targeting PCC infiltration into the country’s financial sector. Lula had not issued a formal response to the final decision by the time of publication.

Background: Prison Origins, Global Reach

Both gangs emerged from inside Brazilian prisons decades ago. The Red Command took shape in the 1970s within a Rio de Janeiro facility, where political detainees and common criminals were held together under military rule. The PCC formed in the 1990s in São Paulo following a deadly police crackdown that killed more than 100 inmates during a prison revolt. The two groups now rank among Latin America’s most powerful criminal enterprises. They export cocaine sourced from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia to markets across North America and Europe. Their operational styles differ sharply. The Red Command runs a decentralized, overtly confrontational structure. The PCC operates more like a corporation, with rigid hierarchies and a deliberate low profile.

A Political Windfall for Flávio Bolsonaro

The designation lands at a volatile moment in Brazilian politics. Far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, chosen to replace his father Jair Bolsonaro as the main opposition candidate, had been struggling in polls after a corruption-linked tape surfaced. His trip to Washington this week, where he met both Trump and Rubio, appeared timed to generate momentum. He immediately claimed credit for the designation. The White House visit was not listed on any public schedule. Analysts in Brazil widely view the US decision as a political lift for Flávio and a diplomatic setback for Lula heading into October’s presidential vote.

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