Pioneers: The PCC and Specialization in the Market of Major Robberies

Jania Perla Diógenes De Aquino

doi:10.31389/jied.34

Abstract

Having studied sociality among robbers, mainly the pioneers of the PCC [Primeiro Comando da Capital, or First Command of the Capital], in Brazil, I argue individual entrepreneurship, contrary to popular belief, provides the foundation for major robberies of banks and other financial institutions in Brazil. Based on 18 years of research on robberies and robbers in Brazil, this paper explores the specialization of an illegal market, thus breaking, on the one hand, with the idea of “urban violence” as a lack of rules, civility and modernity, and, on the other hand, with pure economism. By establishing a dialogue with the Brazilian ethnographic literature on the crime universe, it examines how the PCC is strengthened even though its members are fiercely independent and work on the basis of short-term projects. Estudando a socialidade dos assaltantes, em especial dos pioneiros do Primeiro Comando da Capital, no Brasil, argumento que o empreendedorismo individual, ao contrário do que se imagina, está na base dos grandes assaltos a bancos e financeiras no Brasil. Baseado em 18 anos de pesquisa sobre assaltos e assaltantes no Brasil, o artigo discute a especialização de um mercado ilegal, rompendo de um lado com a ideia de “violência urbana” como ausência de regras, civilidade e modernização, e de outro com o puro economicismo. Em diálogo com a literatura etnográfica brasileira sobre o universo criminal, o texto verifica como o Primeiro Comando da Capital se fortalece mesmo com forte independência individual de seus membros, que atuam por projetos de curta duração. Publisher's Note: This article has been published in both Portuguese and English. To download the Portuguese version, click the "Download" link and select "PDF (PT)". Este artigo foi publicado tanto em Inglês, como em Português. Para baixar a versão em Português, clique "Download" e depois selecione "PDF (PT)".

Highlights

The market for robberies of banks and other financial institutions currently plays key role in structuring the main criminal factions in Brazil, including the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC)
An interviewee points out the BC [Banco Central do Brasil, or Brazilian Central Bank] burglary in Fortaleza in 2005, the second largest ever in Brazil, was inspired by Woody Allen’s Small Time Crooks, released in 2000
Bank robberies in Brazil in general involve some sophistication, but those organized by PCC members excel in this regard

Summary

Introduction

The market for robberies of banks and other financial institutions currently plays key role in structuring the main criminal factions in Brazil, including the PCC. When those companies started being robbed, law enforcement authorities from different regions of Brazil went on alert It became clear the bank robberies committed by the PCC had reached new levels in terms of planning and sophistication, and the amounts stolen from their targets totaled millions of reais. Bank robberies in Brazil in general involve some sophistication, but those organized by PCC members excel in this regard They require careful planning, and there have even been operations in which nine-figure amounts were stolen, such as the Banco Central burglary in Fortaleza and probably the robbery of the safe deposit boxes at Banco Itaú. Even though I am not convinced Marcola still masterminds the PCC robberies, I admit he still conveys, for the most part, the image of an ingenious, unsurpassable robber among his peers who have interacted with him at length or heard stories about him, regardless of where in Brazil they come from and whether or not they belong to the PCC

Socialities Pervading All Major PCC Robberies

Closing Remarks