Brazil Faces Security Threats from Criminal Gangs and Militias

Brazil · Latin America + Caribbean region

Brazil faces serious security threats from its two largest domestic criminal gangs, the First Capital Command and Red Command, which are involved in the international drug trade, extortion, and kidnapping. Additionally, militia groups composed mostly of police are committing violent crimes, including extorting neighborhoods and carrying out extrajudicial killings. The country is also becoming increasingly significant as a market and transit point for cocaine.

Single-source report, not yet corroborated.