Trump designates Brazilian cartels as terrorists after Bolsonaro lobbying

Following pressure from Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, former U.S. President Donald Trump has designated two of Brazil's largest drug cartels, the First Capital Command (PCC) and Red Command (Comando Vermelho), as terrorist organizations. The U.S. State Department stated that the cartels pose a threat to public safety, with their influence extending beyond Brazil into the wider region and the United States.

This decision has sparked strong reactions from Brazil's current government. President Lula da Silva's administration views the designation as an infringement on Brazil's sovereignty and warned it could pave the way for U.S. military intervention. Celso Amorim, a foreign policy advisor to President Silva, stated that while organized crime must be fought vigorously, equating it with terrorism is not the correct approach.

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Their influence and illegal networks extend far beyond Brazil's borders, across our region and into our country.

Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has reportedly made combating criminal networks a central issue in his campaign. He has accused President Silva of having ties to organized crime, though without presenting evidence. Political analysts suggest Bolsonaro may be using this issue to distract from a recent scandal involving over 100 million Swedish kronor received from a banker currently under investigation for fraud. Concerns exist that these funds may have been used for Flávio Bolsonaro's election campaign rather than for a film about his father.

The PCC, in particular, has evolved into a sophisticated mafia-like organization with operations in Europe and Africa. It has infiltrated Brazil's formal economy, laundering money through various sectors, including household gas sales, commodity trading, and real estate. Brazilian banks that have handled funds linked to the cartel, knowingly or unknowingly, now face the risk of U.S. sanctions.

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Organized crime must be fought with the greatest possible force and determination. Equating organized crime with terrorism, however, is not the right path.