Brazil and U.S. Launch Project MIT to Combat Arms Trafficking and Organized Crime

Brazil and the United States formalized a bilateral security cooperation agreement on April 10, 2026.

“The Brazilian government has announced a new security partnership with the United States to combat criminal networks, as well as the illicit traffic of drugs and weapons”

Al Jazeera

The agreement establishes an operational alliance between the Brazilian Federal Revenue Secretariat and the United States Customs and Border Protection.

Al Jazeera

The centerpiece is the launch of the Desarma Program, allowing real-time data sharing and mutual alerts.

Finance Minister Durigan highlighted that the development is the result of direct dialogue between Presidents Lula and Trump.

Over the past 12 months, 35 shipments were intercepted containing 1,168 parts and pieces of weapons, mainly originating from Florida.

The Desarma Program integrates intelligence and joint operations to intercept illegal goods.

U.S. intelligence is combined with original information and transmitted digitally to Brazil.

LatinUS

If preventive efforts fail, Brazilian authorities can notify U.S. counterparts.

Authorities identified 35 incidents involving the seizure of 1,168 items.

Drug seizures jumped from 89 kg in 2024 to 1,562 kg in the first quarter of 2026.

The announcement comes amid a broader regional security push led by the Trump administration.

“April 10 (UPI) --The government of Brazil on Friday announced an agreement with the United States to combat transnational crime -- a move that will integrate intelligence sharing and joint operations to target organized criminal networks”

upi

Lula and Trump have been at loggerheads over how best to address crime.

The DESARMA initiative revealed Brazil had seized 1,168 illegally imported arms.

The cooperation forms part of a broader bilateral agenda focused on combating transnational organized crime.