Brazilian Government Criticises US Move Against Drug Gangs

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 30 (Bernama-dpa) -- The Brazilian government has sharply criticised the decision by the United States (US) to designate two drug gangs as foreign terrorist organisations, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

"National sovereignty is non-negotiable," the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in a statement. 

"Brazil rejects any form of external interference in its internal affairs," the government stated. Brasília also warned against "arbitrary measures from abroad" that could be used as a pretext to attack Brazil's sovereignty and economy.

On Thursday, the US State Department said that it would designate the Primeiro Comando da Capital, or PCC, and Comando Vermelho, or CV, criminal syndicates as foreign terrorist organisations as of June 5.

The department justified the move by stating that the groups "are two of the most violent criminal organisations in Brazil" and that their influence extends into the US.

"The terror caused by these organisations in communities seeks to generate profit through crime, particularly drug and arms trafficking, and cannot be confused with the kind of action motivated by ideological, political, and religious reasons seen in international terrorism," the Lula government said.

Brazil also pointed to its cooperation with the US in the fight against organised crime. 

The country recently submitted proposals to Washington for closer cooperation on money laundering and arms trafficking, it said. Meanwhile, unilateral measures could weaken the exchange of information between security authorities and cause economic damage, it added.

The government in Brasília fears that such a designation could give the US a legal basis for tougher measures, potentially including operations on Brazilian territory.

-- BERNAMA-dpa