The US State Department designated Brazilian criminal groups First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC) and Red Command (Comando Vermelho – CV) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on June 5. The move means individuals, businesses, or banks associated with the gangs—knowingly or not—could face asset freezes or terrorism charges, potentially impacting Brazil’s economy.
Chilean authorities dismantled a major money laundering operation linked to Tren de Aragua, arresting 19 people including a bank executive after a two-year investigation into extortion and other criminal activities in Santiago. Reports indicate the cell moved nearly $90 million, highlighting the organization’s economic expansion.
US President Donald Trump endorsed Abelardo de la Espriella shortly after the far-right candidate’s first-round victory in Colombia’s presidential election. “Because of his tremendous achievements in life and his political support for me personally, it is an honor for me to give Abelardo my complete and total endorsement,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The endorsement follows strained US-Colombia relations under President Gustavo Petro, who was decertified as an anti-drug ally.