US decision on factions will not solve problems, says professor

The United States Department of State announced that the CV (Red Command) and the PCC (First Capital Command) will be classified as "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" from June 5th.

The measure, released by Marco Rubio, states that the influence and illicit networks of Brazilian factions extend far beyond Brazil, throughout the region and into the United States itself.

In an interview with CNN Prime Time, public security specialist Rafael Alcadipani evaluated the decision and warned that the designation alone will not be enough to solve the problem of criminal factions in Brazil.

When asked about his position regarding the American classification, Alcadipani was direct: "I don't believe that this designation alone will solve the problem of criminal factions in Brazil."

When asked about the real size of the influence of the PCC and the CV in the United States, Alcadipani considered that this presence is not as proven specifically in the American territory.

"There is obviously the presence of the PCC, mainly elements that traffic arms to Brazil, but the news we have is that Brazilian cocaine goes more to Europe, to North Africa, even to Oceania and Asia", he stated.

According to him, the presence of factions is much more prominent in countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Paraguay, while in the United States it is "smaller" and "diminutive" in comparison.

Brazilian economy "contaminated" by organized crime
Alcadipani highlighted that the PCC's infiltration of the Brazilian financial system represents a serious problem. "The PCC generates a lot of resources, a lot of money, because it is a cocaine logistics company. In addition to committing other crimes, it needs to launder this money and has to use fintechs to carry out this practice", he explained.

The expert highlighted that, although it is not the entire financial system that is compromised, "there are important portions that suffer from this contamination", as was evidenced in the case of fuels, generating economic damage both nationally and internationally.

Designation does not solve the problem, but it can increase cooperation
For him, Brazil has neglected this problem in the last 20 years, allowing factions to grow in a disorderly way and significantly infiltrate the Brazilian economy and society. This neglect, according to the expert, ended up opening space for the country to suffer this type of international sanction.

Despite skepticism, Alcadipani said he hopes the designation will increase collaboration between Brazilian and American authorities. "The United States has a lot to help Brazil with in this matter of financial flows, even the preparation of our police and armed forces to make this confrontation more effective", he said.

He also argued that the problem, as it has become a transnational threat, requires an equally transnational response, with regional integration and involvement of European countries.

Brazil needs a serious national plan to confront it
The expert was emphatic in demanding a firmer and more coordinated stance from the Brazilian authorities. "We need a serious and consistent national plan to combat organized crime, which encompasses the federation, which encompasses the states, and for us to stop playing with serious things", stated Alcadipani.

He argued that the electoral moment is opportune for society to demand from the next federal government and state governments that the fight against organized crime be treated as a "zero priority".

In the expert's assessment, cooperation between agencies such as the Public Ministry, the Federal Police and the Federal Revenue Service is fundamental, and this model of collaboration needs to be institutionalized and deepened, as "crime today is multinational".

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Source: CNN