US sanction harms fight against organized crime, says expert

The United States government announced sanctions against two citizens and three Brazilian companies with alleged links to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital). The measure, however, was criticized by experts for the lack of cooperation with the Brazilian authorities.

In an interview with WW, Wálter Maierovitch, jurist and professor, assessed that the North American initiative, although valid in its objectives, was compromised by the lack of international articulation.

The expert highlighted that the basic rule in combating organized crime was enunciated by a magistrate who became a target of the mafia due to his actions: if the crime is transnational and has no border limitations, only international cooperation will allow it to be combatted effectively. For Maierovitch, it was exactly this element that was missing in the American action.

Operation raised US$ 30 million, according to the US Treasury
According to the US Treasury, the two sanctioned Brazilians would have participated in an operation that raised no less than 30 million dollars. Maierovitch highlighted that neither of the two had been convicted in Brazil to date. "With international cooperation, we could go much further in this regard", he declared, adding that it would be possible to seek elements within the three companies also sanctioned.

For the expert, the measure adopted by the Americans is, in itself, a good example of how to attack the organized crime economy. However, it "was flawed", in his words, precisely due to the lack of international cooperation that would lead to a much more effective result.

Questions about Brazilian actions
Maierovitch also raised questions about the Brazilian side of the issue, asking why Brazil had not identified anything about these two people until then. The expert mentioned that one of those sanctioned, identified as Victor Shimada, had a background related to football and, as stated in the North American report itself, had already served house arrest - although it is not clear whether as a precautionary measure or as a sentence.

"It can be seen that this is all very bad for the fight against organized crime", concluded Maierovitch, warning that people who have had relationships with those sanctioned may also be subject to penalties.

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Source: CNN