US intends to designate two Brazilian gangs as ‘terrorist organizations’, Rubio says

US intends to designate two Brazilian gangs as ‘terrorist organizations’, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister at Yerevan's Zvartnots international airport on May 26, 2026. (AFP)
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Updated 29 May 2026 01:41
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US intends to designate two Brazilian gangs as ‘terrorist organizations’, Rubio says

US intends to designate two Brazilian gangs as ‘terrorist organizations’, Rubio says
  • Rubio said the gangs were two of the “most ‌violent criminal organizations in Brazil” and their influence and ⁠networks ⁠extend across the region and into the United States

The United States intends to designate ​Brazilian gangs PCC and Comando Vermelho as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations” from June 5, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.
The Lula administration in Brazil has ‌tried to avoid ‌such designations because ​it ‌could ⁠open ​a path ⁠for military action by the US in Brazil or sanctions against banks that unknowingly do business with gang members.
While the FTO designation was ⁠planned to take effect ‌in June, ‌the US Department of ​State designated ‌the gangs as “Specially Designated ‌Global Terrorists” on Thursday, Rubio said in a statement. 
Rubio said the gangs were two of the “most ‌violent criminal organizations in Brazil” and their influence and ⁠networks ⁠extend across the region and into the United States.
“The Trump Administration will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation and our national security interests by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue ​streams ​funding violent narco-terrorists,” Rubio said.