Brazil’s PCC-Red Command Truce Promises an Imperfect Peace
A recent truce between Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations could reduce territorial disputes and violence in Latin America’s biggest nation,…
Q&A: Europe Steps Up Work with Latin America Against Criminal Networks
The European Union has stepped up support to Latin America and the Caribbean, aware that growing alliances between European and…
How ‘Walter White’ Took Meth Production to São Paulo
The arrest of a chemical engineer, a wannabe “Brazilian Walter White” like the fictional character from the television series Breaking…
Portugal Becoming Key Hub for Cocaine to Europe
Record-breaking cocaine seizures in Portugal in 2024 have cemented the country’s status as a crucial axis in drug trafficking routes…
Deadly Gestures: Brazilian Gangs Crack Down on Hand Signs
In Brazil, where shifts in gang dynamics have created new violent hotspots, innocent bystanders are becoming victims of turf wars…
The PCC Plays Its Dirty Game in Portuguese Football
Evidence linking Brazil’s biggest organized crime network and Portuguese football highlights how sports can serve as a vehicle for illicit…
Red Command
The Red Command (Comando Vermelho – CV) is Brazil’s oldest criminal group. Created in a Rio de Janeiro prison in…
The Rise of Global Crime Networks: European Mafias in the Americas
The expansion of foreign criminal groups into Latin America has taken on a new dimension in the last decade, with…
How ‘Canteens’ Feed Crime in Brazil’s Prisons
The dismantling of the “canteen mafia,” which controlled food distribution in Rio de Janeiro’s prisons, highlights the growing presence of…
Cash and Violence: Organized Crime Fights to Control Brazil’s Municipal Vote
With the second round of Brazil’s municipal elections coming up on October 27, criminal groups are increasingly being caught using…