Rio police raid killing a CV leader sparks protests in Rio’s Vila Cruzeiro; CV is Brazil’s major drug/arms trafficking gang, rivals with PCC.
Brazilian police conducted a raid in Rio's Prazeres favela, killing Claudio Augusto dos Santos, a Red Command leader. The operation involved 150 officers, and retaliation included arson and roadblocks. The police face scrutiny over tactics amid ongoing violence linked to organized crime.
Colombians have entered a June 21 runoff between leftist Ivan Cepeda and right‑wing Abelardo De La Espriella. Cepeda has pledged to continue President Gustavo Petro's peace and social reforms; De La Espriella has promised a security crackdown, pro‑business reforms and mega‑prisons. The campaign is focused on rising violence, ceasefire moves by the ELN and U.S. political endorsements that have polarised the race.
The United States has reaffirmed support to its Latin American allies amid ongoing protests in Bolivia as President Paz reshuffles his cabinet and faces strong domestic opposition. Washington has linked regional security to counter-narcotics networks and expanded its hemispheric involvement through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C). Protests continue as Bolivian authorities deploy measures to restore order.
U.S. designates Brazil's two largest criminal gangs as terrorist organizations, a move that has drawn Brazil's government into a debate over sovereignty and potential intervention. The designation follows political pressure ahead of October elections and has sparked pushback from Lula's administration, which warns of risks to information sharing and internal security cooperation.