On 19 February, Brazil and Portugal signed a cooperation agreement aimed at combating transnational crime, including drug trafficking and terrorism. The agreement, similar to one being negotiated between Brazil’s Ministry of Security and the US Department of State, comes amid growing concerns over the suspected criminal activities of Red Command (CV) in Europe and the US. The urgency of such measures was underscored by the murder of a 20-year-old Brazilian immigrant in Seixal, near Lisbon, allegedly carried out by CV operatives. The agreement with the US seeks to officially classify the CV as an international criminal organization, facilitating greater cooperation between both countries in combating the faction’s operations on American soil.
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Recruitment in the US
The cooperation effort, which has been under discussion between the Rio state government and the US Consulate in Rio since June 2023, is based on intelligence indicating that the CV is recruiting accomplices within the US. Additionally, authorities have gathered evidence showing that CV traffickers have partnered with South American cartels, enabling them to smuggle drugs into the US.
Designation as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO)
Recognizing the CV as a Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) will allow various US federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), to actively pursue CV members. This designation will also enable alerts in the US immigration system, preventing known CV criminals from entering the country.
Transnational Operations
The international expansion of Brazilian drug traffickers has been documented since the early 1990s. A notable case occurred in 2001, when Luiz Fernando da Costa, known as Fernandinho Beira-Mar, a top CV leader, was captured by the Colombian Army in a FARC-controlled jungle region, highlighting the faction’s global criminal ties.
Expansion into Europe
In addition to its North American operations, Red Command is also believed to have expanded into Europe, establishing criminal networks in Portugal. Authorities from Rio de Janeiro’s Public Security Department are investigating the faction’s expansion into both the US and Europe. In November 2023, Portuguese courts sentenced Rúben Oliveira, known as Xuxas, to 20 years in prison for drug trafficking, criminal association, and money laundering. The Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office has linked him to drug trafficking groups in Brazil and Colombia, including the CV.
Murder in Portugal
Authorities suspect that the CV was responsible for the execution of 20-year-old Brazilian immigrant Thúlio Fernando Santos Silva. His charred body was discovered at Ponta dos Corvos Beach in Seixal, near Lisbon. According to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, the Judicial Police suspect that five men, acting on CV orders, carried out the murder.
Analysis:
Cooperation between Brazil and other countries to combat transnational crime is necessary due to the growing expansion of the Red Command (CV) beyond Brazilian borders. However, experts caution that these agreements must be carefully crafted, especially when involving countries with differing legal systems and security structures. Since splitting with the PCC in 2016, the CV has expanded along drug trafficking routes, particularly in the Solimões River (Amazon), and established ties with South American cartels, creating a transnational network that now reaches the United States.
Expert Roberto Uchoa, from the Brazilian Public Security Forum, highlights that US involvement in combating Brazilian drug trafficking could be more effective through arms control. The presence of high-powered weapons in criminal hands has been pivotal in escalating violence in Brazil.
Brazil must also consider the impact of these international actions on local communities, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, where the CV maintains a stronghold. Cooperation with the US and Portugal should be complemented by robust domestic measures to strengthen public security policies and address the root causes of crime in Brazil.
