How a Prison Gang Quietly Built a Global Empire

A criminal organization that began inside Brazil’s prison system has expanded far beyond its origins and now operates across continents, including North America. Reporting in the The Wall Street Journal, journalist Samantha Pearson describes how the First Capital Command (PCC) has grown into what some prosecutors считают the largest criminal network in the Western Hemisphere, with roughly 40,000 members spread across nearly 30 countries.

The PCC was formed in the 1990s inside a São Paulo prison, initially as an alliance of inmates pushing for basic living conditions. Over time, it turned Brazil’s overcrowded prison system into a foundation for expansion, developing a highly organized, business-oriented model that prioritizes profit and efficiency. Prosecutor Lincoln Gakiya said the group now operates on a truly global scale.

According to the report, the PCC strengthened its position in the cocaine trade by eliminating intermediaries and dealing directly with producers in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. It then moves large quantities of drugs through Brazil’s Port of Santos, sending shipments to major European entry points such as Antwerp and Rotterdam. This activity has contributed to record drug seizures overseas and intensified violence in key trafficking areas.

Beyond drug trafficking, the organization has expanded into other ventures. Authorities say it launders money through various channels, including religious institutions, financial technology companies, and real estate, while also engaging in activities like illegal mining and cybercrime. Its structure is less rigid than traditional gangs, functioning more like a networked marketplace, which makes it flexible and harder for law enforcement to dismantle.

The PCC’s influence has now reached the United States, where officials have imposed sanctions on individuals tied to the group and identified connections in several states, including Florida and Massachusetts. Investigators say its success stems not only from internal discipline but also from weaknesses in prison systems and border controls that allow leaders to maintain influence even while incarcerated.

Although longtime leader Marcos Willians Herbas Camacho has been imprisoned since 1999, authorities believe the organization no longer depends on any single person. Instead, it operates as a decentralized system that continues to grow despite enforcement efforts. One Brazilian police official summed up the scale of the group’s reach by noting it has become far larger than initially imagined.

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