In a significant ruling in Brazil's Mato Grosso state, two members of a criminal gang have been convicted for extorting local merchants by demanding an illegal 'water fee.' This criminal scheme was centered in Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, two municipalities in the metropolitan region of the state capital. Authorities estimate that the operation generated over R$ 1.5 million, showcasing the extensive reach and audacity of this criminal organization. The convicted individuals, Ulisses Batista da Silva and Eduardo Virgílio de Oliveira Ajala, engaged in threats and aggressive tactics to enforce this extortion.

The case, part of a broader initiative known as Operation Aqua Ilícita, was spearheaded by the Special Action Group Against Organized Crime (Gaeco), which had been investigating this extortion ring for some time before the court proceedings. While the defendants faced serious charges, another individual involved, Lourival Pereira da Silva, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence against him. This outcome highlights the challenges in prosecuting organized crime, where direct evidence is often hard to come by.

In response to the conviction, the defense team for Eduardo Virgílio de Oliveira stated that the ruling heavily relied on information from the police investigation rather than solid evidence presented in court. They emphasized that there was a lack of concrete proof to substantiate the claims made by authorities, indicating potential legal avenues for appeal. This case not only reflects the ongoing issues with organized crime in Brazil but also raises questions about due process and the standards of evidence required to secure such convictions, as the defense plans to appeal the sentence.