The Trump administration is preparing to announce the designation of the Brazilian factions Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as foreign terrorist organizations. The decision could be formalized in the coming days by the US Department of State.
The information was revealed by UOL columnist Mariana Sanches and confirmed to the report by different sources linked to or close to the US government. According to the investigation, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira was informed in Washington about the progress of the proposal and has been trying to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio since Saturday (7). As of the publication of the report, there was no confirmation that the dialogue between the two diplomats had taken place.
If the designation is formalized, the groups will be added to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This classification triggers a series of automatic sanctions by the US government.
Among the main consequences is the freezing of assets belonging to members of the organizations under US jurisdiction, as well as the exclusion of these groups from the country’s financial system. The measure also prohibits US citizens or entities from providing any kind of “material support,” including weapons or financial resources.
The terrorist organization designation also imposes immigration restrictions on people associated with the factions and increases legal risks for companies operating in regions where these groups are active. Companies may be subject to sanctions from the Department of the Treasury through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
According to the report, the OFAC has already issued alerts to companies about the increased risk of doing business in countries where cartels designated as terrorists are present, as is the case in Mexico.
The issue also has implications for the regional security debate. The US President publicly mentioned the possibility of military strikes against cartels in Mexican territory, although experts point to legal discrepancies regarding whether the terrorist organization designation would provide sufficient legal basis for that type of action.
Within the US government, discussions about classifying criminal factions as terrorist organizations have been ongoing for months among several officials. Those involved include the Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Christopher Landau; the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Darren Beattie; and the Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Ricardo Pita.
The initiative also has the support of Sarah Carter, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who was confirmed by Congress in January as responsible for the Trump administration’s anti-drug policy.
Source: brasil247.com