US and 14 Other Countries Announce Sanctions Against PCC, CV and Other Criminal Groups

The United States and 14 other countries in the so-called Shield of the Americas coalition announced on Tuesday (22), in New York, that they plan to adopt coordinated sanctions and other measures against 24 criminal organizations operating across the continent — including Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV).

What the announced measures include

According to the declaration signed by the participating countries, governments plan to apply, in line with international obligations and each nation’s own laws, measures such as asset freezes, visa and immigration restrictions, and criminal liability for anyone knowingly providing material — including logistical — support to the listed organizations.

Besides the US, the declaration was signed by Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. PCC and CV are already on the US sanctions list and were designated as terrorist organizations by the White House earlier this year.

Brazil did not join the initiative

Brazil, the country most directly affected by the measure given PCC and CV’s roots, chose not to join the Shield of the Americas at this time — as did Mexico, also currently under a left-leaning government. Even so, the US terrorist designation allows Washington to apply individual sanctions regardless of Brazil’s participation in the coalition.

The declaration also calls for bringing the fight against groups labeled narco-terrorist organizations into the Organization of American States (OAS). The signatory countries plan to submit a formal request to convene a consultation meeting under the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR).