In a combined effort by the Mato Grosso Public Ministry, Civil Police, and Military Police, four search and seizure warrants were executed in Barra do Garças and Pontal do Araguaia, aimed at uncovering an extortion operation affecting local merchants. This enforcement comes as part of Operation 'Extortion', which has revealed a criminal organization's tactics of demanding money through intimidation and coercively enforcing the purchase of specific products, with the guise of offering protection against violence.

The special group focused on organized crime, known as Gaeco, reported that the criminal group not only extorted businesses but also provided a false sense of security, which in fact funded their illegal activities. The investigation surfaced following complaints from local shop owners who experienced systematic threats and coercive business practices, indicating a significant problem of organized crime in the region.

The operation's outcome includes the release of the suspects' names, signaling transparency in the ongoing investigation, as well as a clear message that law enforcement is taking decisive action against these forms of criminality. Since such activities threaten the safety and economic integrity of local businesses, this operation underscores the importance of community cooperation in reporting extortion and criminal activities to the authorities.