Brazilian congressman suggests jailed ex-colleagues surrender to U.S.

Carlos Minc, a state congressman from Rio de Janeiro, has controversially suggested that former political colleagues imprisoned for their alleged involvement with organized crime should surrender themselves to the United States. This provocative statement comes in the wake of the U.S. government's decision to classify major Brazilian criminal factions, the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command (CV), as terrorist organizations.

Minc specifically named state deputies Thiego Santos (known as TH Joias) and Rodrigo Bacellar, both of whom were arrested for direct ties to the Red Command. He also mentioned Tiago Rangel, who was arrested in the same investigation concerning suspected fraud in state contracts.

The congressman's remarks were a thinly veiled critique of corruption within the Rio de Janeiro State Assembly (Alerj). He drew a stark comparison, stating, "It is more difficult to clean up Alerj than Guanabara Bay," referencing the notoriously polluted bay in Rio de Janeiro.

Earlier, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro had announced that he had requested President Trump to designate the Brazilian factions as terrorist groups, aiming to combat organized crime within Brazil. Minc's comments appear to be an ironic twist on this, suggesting that those implicated should face U.S. justice if their organizations are deemed terrorist entities.

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It is more difficult to clean up Alerj than Guanabara Bay.