The Presidency’s special advisor for International Affairs, Celso Amorim, said this Thursday (28) that “equating organized crime with terrorism is not useful”.
The statement was made during a speech at the XIV International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Affairs, held in Russia, hours before the United States government classified the Brazilian factions PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and CV (Comando Vermelho) as terrorist organizations.
In his speech, Amorim said that the growth of organized crime is a “serious threat to security” and that it is necessary to “understand” the motivations to combat crime effectively.
“Organized crime must be fought with maximum energy and determination. Equating organized crime with terrorism, however, does not help. Understanding motivations is essential for the effectiveness of combating all types of crime”, he said.
The United States Department of State announced this Thursday that .
The statement, signed by Secretary Marco Rubio, also states that the US intends to designate the two criminal groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations as of June 5th.
“The CV and the PCC are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil. Together, they command thousands of members and orchestrated brutal attacks against police officers, public authorities and Brazilian civilians”, highlights the text.
Also according to the statement, the Trump administration will use all available tools to keep illicit drugs out of North American territory and stop the flow of resources that finance “violent narco-terrorists.”
“The action taken today by the Department of State further demonstrates the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels and criminal organizations in our region and ensuring the safety of the American people,” the announcement concluded.
