South America: Criminal Law

This weekly bulletin from Mayer Brown's Brasília litigation team highlights key cases scheduled for judgment by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court, Superior Court of Justice, and Federal Court of Accounts, along with important legislative matters before the Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate. The August 10-14, 2026 session covers critical issues spanning agribusiness development, environmental licensing reforms, indigenous land rights, judicial deposit corrections, cargo transport insurance, and variou

US-designated criminal organizations control Venezuela's mineral-rich Bolívar state, using illicit gold mining to evade sanctions and fund operations. Following Nicholas Maduro's capture, the US and new Venezuelan government are deploying military force and economic reforms to dismantle these networks, but success depends on breaking entrenched corruption while attracting legitimate foreign investment.

The U.S. government's recent designation of Brazilian criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations is fundamentally reshaping compliance obligations and regulatory exposure for companies operating internationally. How will these expanded FTO designations impact routine business operations, supply chain management, and financial transactions for Brazilian and multinational corporations? This analysis explores the practical implications of heightened transnational enforcement and the critical ste