Brazil Splits Over 'Narcoterrorism' After Rio’s Deadliest Police Raid

Overview

• An Oct. 28 operation in Rio’s Penha and Alemão complexes left at least 119 dead, with subsequent official tallies citing 121.
• Governor Cláudio Castro labeled the action a “war on narcoterrorism,” while Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski rejected equating factions with terrorists and emphasized differing legal definitions.
• Bill PL 724/25 to broaden Brazil’s Anti-Terrorism law to include drug-related activities passed the Chamber’s Security Commission on Oct. 14 and now awaits review by the CCJ.
• Right-wing allies are positioning to advance the measure, with deputy Guilherme Derrite set to return to Congress to report the bill as governors such as Tarcísio de Freitas and Romeu Zema back the terrorist classification.
• U.S. officials pressed Brazil to classify groups like CV and PCC as terrorists after designating eight cartels as FTOs, a push resisted by the Federal Police and Itamaraty, and the PF declined to meet the visiting U.S. envoy in May.