The Red Command: Unmasking Brazil's Most Feared Crime Syndicate

The Red Command: Unmasking Brazil's Most Feared Crime Syndicate

The Comando Vermelho (CV) stands as one of Brazil's largest and most influential criminal organizations, deeply impacting the nation's public safety and social dynamics. Its journey, marked by violence, expansion, and adaptation, mirrors the complexities of organized crime and its far-reaching influence within society.

What Is the Comando Vermelho?

The Comando Vermelho is a Brazilian criminal faction primarily involved in drug trafficking, robberies, extortion, kidnappings, and territorial control. While it initially emerged with an ideology of "justice" within the prison system, it has since evolved into a pragmatic organization driven by profit and the maintenance of its power, often through force and intimidation. Unlike some traditional mafias, the CV doesn't operate with a single, monolithic hierarchical structure. Instead, it functions as a network of leaders and cells, enjoying a degree of autonomy while still adhering to a central command that dictates general guidelines.

How and Where Did It Emerge?

The history of the Comando Vermelho traces back to the early 1970s, specifically 1979, within Rio de Janeiro's prison system. Its genesis occurred at the Cândido Mendes Penal Institute on Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis. This prison, famously known as the "Devil's Cauldron," held both common criminals and leftist political militants imprisoned during Brazil's military dictatorship.

The coexistence of these two groups was pivotal to the CV's formation. Political prisoners, with their experience in organization and ideology, imparted notions of discipline, hierarchy, and solidarity to the common criminals, along with tactics for resistance and articulation. This fusion of knowledge led to the creation of the "Falange Vermelha" (Red Phalanx), the precursor to the Comando Vermelho. Its initial goal was to unite prisoners to combat oppression within the penal system and seek better living conditions.

What Does It Do and Why?

Currently, the Comando Vermelho engages in diverse activities focused on controlling illicit operations and territories:

• Drug Trafficking: This is the CV's primary source of income. The faction controls trafficking routes, drug sales points ("bocas de fumo"), and the distribution of substances like cocaine, marijuana, and crack.

• Robberies and Extortion: The CV is also involved in cargo, vehicle, bank, and ATM robberies, as well as extortion, particularly in areas where it exerts dominance.

• Territorial Control: The faction maintains strict control over communities and favelas, imposing its "laws," collecting fees from residents and businesses (often resembling private militias), and ensuring the exclusivity of its criminal operations.

• Territorial Disputes: The CV is constantly at war with rival factions, such as the Terceiro Comando Puro (TCP) and militias, to expand or maintain its dominion over strategic areas for drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

• Arms Trafficking: To sustain its operations and conflicts, the faction actively engages in arms trafficking, often dealing in high-caliber weaponry.

The "why" behind these actions is multifaceted:

• Power and Profit: The primary reason is the control and accumulation of wealth through criminal activities.

• Status and Survival: Within the criminal underworld, belonging to a faction like the CV confers status and, in many cases, a form of "security" or survival in prison and marginalized communities.

• State Vacuum: In many impoverished communities, the absence or inefficiency of the state in providing basic services (education, healthcare, security) creates a vacuum that is filled by criminal organizations. These groups offer a parallel "order" and, in some cases, even provide assistance (with dubious intentions, of course).

• Social Control: By imposing its rules and punishing those who disobey, the CV exerts social control in its areas of operation, fostering an environment of fear and submission.

Known Names

Throughout its history, several individuals have stood out as leaders or prominent figures within the Comando Vermelho. Some of the most well-known names include:

• William da Silva Lima ("Professor" or "Mineiro"): One of the founders of the Falange Vermelha, considered one of the organization's intellectual mentors.

• Rogério Lemgruber ("Mineiro"): Another founder and a prominent figure in the CV's early decades.

• Fernandinho Beira-Mar (Luiz Fernando da Costa): One of the CV's most notorious and influential leaders, known for his organizational skills and for expanding the faction's operations into international drug and arms trafficking. Even while imprisoned, he still wields significant influence.

• Marcinho VP (Márcio dos Santos Nepomuceno): Also a prominent leader, known for his leadership capabilities and as a key figure in the faction.

• Elias Maluco (Elias Pereira da Silva): A historical leader, known for his participation in conflicts and his dominance over strategic areas in Rio de Janeiro (now deceased).

Why Do the United States Want to Classify the CV as a Terrorist Group, and Evidence of Links to Brazilian Politicians and Government?

The discussion surrounding the classification of the Comando Vermelho (and other Brazilian factions) as a terrorist group by the United States is complex and involves several factors:

• Transnational Operations: The main argument for this classification is the CV's expansion beyond Brazilian borders. The faction is involved in international drug and arms trafficking, with connections in neighboring countries (Bolivia, Paraguay, Colombia) and even routes to Europe and Africa. This transnational activity, coupled with the violence employed, can be interpreted as a threat to regional and global security.

• Potential Funding of Terrorist Activities: While there's no direct evidence that the CV funds international terrorist groups, the logic behind the classification is that large criminal organizations generating substantial profits could, directly or indirectly, have ties to terrorist groups or facilitate their activities.

• Violence and Tactics: The brutality and intimidation tactics employed by the CV, such as executions, kidnappings, and armed confrontations that paralyze cities, bear some resemblance to the tactics used by terrorist groups to instill fear and destabilize.

• Impact on Regional Stability: The presence of powerful factions like the CV can destabilize governments, weaken institutions, and generate migration flows, which is a concern for the U.S. in terms of regional security.

Evidence of Links to Brazilian Politicians and Government:

The infiltration of organized crime into Brazilian politics and government is a constant concern, and while often difficult to prove conclusively, there are indications and investigations that point to these connections:

• Campaign Financing: There are suspicions that resources from organized crime, including drug trafficking, are used to finance electoral campaigns, both directly (cash) and indirectly (favors or influence to secure contracts). In return, elected politicians could offer protection, privileged information, or facilitate illicit activities.

• Police and Judicial Corruption: Corruption within law enforcement and the judicial system is a direct link. Police officers can be bribed to turn a blind eye to certain operations, release prisoners, provide information about investigations, or even actively participate in criminal schemes. Judges and prosecutors can also be targets of bribery attempts or intimidation.

• Territorial Dominance and "Corral Vote": In many communities dominated by the CV, the faction can pressure residents to vote for specific candidates, using violence and threats as tools for electoral control. This creates a modern "corral vote," where the community, out of fear, supports candidates endorsed by the criminals.

• Infiltration of Public Agencies: There are cases of public servants, at different levels (municipal, state, federal), being co-opted or working for the factions, sharing sensitive information, facilitating fraudulent bids, or even diverting public funds.

• Investigations and Denunciations: Over the years, numerous police operations and Public Prosecutor's investigations have uncovered corruption schemes and links between politicians and criminal factions. While not all result in definitive convictions, the recurrence of these denunciations points to a worrying proximity.

• Favorable Laws and Policies: There is a fear that the influence of organized crime could lead to the creation or modification of laws and policies that, directly or indirectly, benefit criminal activities or hinder the actions of security forces.

Classifying the Comando Vermelho as a terrorist group by the U.S. would have significant implications, such as financial sanctions, travel restrictions for members and collaborators, and increased international cooperation in combating the faction. However, this measure also sparks debates about the nature of organized crime in Brazil and the effectiveness of treating it purely as terrorism, given its social base and the structural causes that fuel its existence.

In essence, the Comando Vermelho is a complex reflection of the challenges Brazil faces concerning criminality, social inequality, and the fragility of its institutions. Combating this organization requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond repression, addressing the social roots of the problem and strengthening governance and justice at all levels.

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