A report from the National Secretariat of Penal Policies has issued a serious warning about Brazil’s public security: an unprecedented alliance between the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV). The country’s two largest criminal factions are reportedly joining legal efforts to influence decisions regarding the treatment of their leaders incarcerated in the federal penitentiary system. The intelligence report, obtained by the Ministry of Justice, indicates that this alliance could have direct consequences both inside prisons and on the streets.
Investigations reveal that lawyers representing both organizations are working together to challenge the strict Regime Disciplinar Diferenciado (RDD), which imposes total isolation on high-risk criminals. Court-authorized recordings capture conversations between inmates and their legal representatives, strategizing on how to loosen the restrictions imposed on federal prisons.
Beyond the legal sphere, there are indications that this collaboration is already affecting the dynamics of organized crime on the streets. Authorities have intercepted messages suggesting that a non-aggression pact has been established between the factions, suspending conflicts and executions in different regions of the country.
Unification of Lawyers and Prison System Demands
The intelligence report details that the primary objective of this alliance is to strengthen the demands of PCC and CV leaders currently serving time in high-security federal prisons. These inmates face severe restrictions, including solitary confinement, a ban on external communication, and limited visitation rights with no physical contact.
The factions are organizing a petition to gather signatures in support of legal changes that would make prison regulations less strict. PCC leader Marco Willians Herbas Camacho, known as Marcola, reportedly asked a lawyer about the feasibility of gathering 1.6 million signatures to support their cause.
Among the main demands listed in the intelligence report are:
- Increased outdoor time, currently limited to two hours per day;
- Permission for physical-contact visits, which are currently prohibited in federal penitentiaries;
- Reevaluation of the ban on access to media, such as television, radio, and newspapers;
- Less restrictive supervision of lawyers, to prevent monitoring of conversations between inmates and their legal representatives.
Impact of the Truce on the Streets and International Drug Trafficking
The possible unification of PCC and CV extends beyond prison walls and could directly impact drug and arms trafficking within and outside Brazil. Documents obtained by investigators suggest that the factions have reached a ceasefire agreement, avoiding internal conflicts and strengthening their criminal operations.
According to prosecutor Lincoln Gakiya, who has been investigating the PCC for over 20 years, this alliance poses a significant risk to national security. With the factions agreeing on a non-aggression pact, authorities fear increased cooperation in organized crime logistics, including:
- Expansion of international cocaine trafficking routes, strengthening drug exports to Europe and Africa;
- Greater control over the supply of weapons to criminal groups in Brazil, particularly high-caliber rifles and ammunition;
- Shared dominance of key territories, reducing conflicts and expanding their influence over drug-dominated communities.
Public Security Threat and Government Response
Officials from the Ministry of Justice are closely monitoring the evolution of this alliance. According to André Garcia, National Secretary of Penal Policies, isolating criminal leaders is essential to preventing them from influencing external faction activities.
In response, the federal government is considering new measures to further restrict communication between the leaders of organized crime and their subordinates. Possible actions include:
- Stricter monitoring of lawyers representing PCC and CV members;
- Expansion of intelligence operations inside federal prisons to detect organized crime activity;
- Implementation of new signal-blocking technologies to eliminate illegal communications between inmates.
A History of Rivalry Between PCC and CV
The relationship between PCC and Comando Vermelho has long been marked by intense conflicts. Founded in São Paulo in the 1990s, the PCC expanded its influence across Brazil, directly competing with Comando Vermelho, which has dominated the Rio de Janeiro drug trade for decades.
Some of the most violent moments in the history of their rivalry include:
- 2006: PCC coordinated rebellions in São Paulo, leading to a wave of violence that left hundreds dead;
- 2016: The definitive split between PCC and CV escalated into a nationwide war, with hundreds of assassinations inside and outside prisons;
- 2017: The Alcaçuz prison massacre in Rio Grande do Norte showcased the brutality of the power struggle between the factions.
In recent years, despite their historical rivalry, both groups have shown signs of cooperation, particularly regarding legal and political strategies within the prison system.
Potential Scenarios for Organized Crime in Brazil
The alliance between the two largest criminal factions in Brazil could lead to major changes in public security. Some possible developments include:
- Increase in international drug and arms trafficking, making it harder for law enforcement to combat organized crime;
- Reduction in inter-faction violence, potentially leading to lower homicide rates in some regions;
- Greater political pressure for prison system reforms, fueling debates about inmate rights and national security.
