Lula Expands $2.2 Billion Anti-Crime Plan Targeting Powerful Gangs Ahead Of Brazil Elections
Brazil’s government has launched an expanded anti-organised crime programme worth about 11 billion reais (USD 2.2 billion) , reinforcing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s push to strengthen his public security record ahead of the October elections.
The initiative targets Brazil’s two most powerful criminal organisations, the First Command of the Capital (PCC) and the Red Command (CV) , groups that together are estimated to have tens of thousands of members and operate across Brazil and abroad.
Officials said the plan focuses on financial asphyxiation of criminal networks , including anti–money laundering operations, alongside intensified efforts against arms trafficking , homicide investigations, and prison system reform.
A major component involves strengthening state capacity through surveillance and forensic upgrades, including drones, body scanners, metal detectors, X-ray systems, radar, DNA tracking tools, communication jammers, and policing vehicles.
About 1 billion reais (USD 190 million) will be deployed in the first phase by December, with further disbursements expected later.
The programme also aims to regain control of Brazil’s overcrowded prison system, where criminal factions have historically maintained influence and continued operations from inside detention facilities.
Lula said he discussed cooperation on organised crime with US President Donald Trump during a recent visit to Washington, including concerns over illegal arms flows originating abroad, while stressing Brazil’s sovereignty over policing decisions.
The initiative has sharpened political tensions, with opposition leaders accusing the government of weak security policies, while allies argue that state governors are hesitant to fully cooperate with federal funding mechanisms.
Public safety remains one of Brazil’s top voter concerns, with organised crime deeply embedded in urban areas, prisons, and illicit economic networks across the country.