A recent report by a nonprofit organization revealed that criminal gangs are now operating in over a third of municipalities in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, leading to a surge in violence. The report highlighted that in 2024, gangs were present in 260 out of 772 municipalities in the region, a significant increase from the previous year. The presence of mafia-like organizations, particularly the Red Command and First Capital Command (PCC), has exacerbated the situation in the Legal Amazon, which is considered a strategic territory for transnational trafficking.
The Legal Amazon, spanning nine states in Brazil, is home to the largest hydrographic basin globally. The report noted that the Red Command controls half of the municipalities where organized crime groups are present, indicating a substantial rise in their influence compared to the previous year.
