Josevan Dionísio dos Santos sentenced to 28 years for killing quilombola leader

Josevan Dionísio dos Santos, also known as ‘BZ’, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of Maria Bernadete Pacífico Moreira, a prominent quilombola leader and ialorixá. The sentencing, delivered by a jury in Salvador, follows the August 17, 2023, assassination of the community leader in Simões Filho.

According to the Public Ministry of Bahia, the crime was motivated by Mãe Bernadete’s opposition to the expansion of drug trafficking within the Pitanga dos Palmares quilombo community. The prosecution stated that the defendant entered the victim's home, ordered her grandchildren into a room, and executed her with 25 gunshots. This conviction marks the third person held responsible for the killing.

The investigation, conducted under Operation Pacific, linked the execution to criminal organizations operating in the region. Legal representatives for the family noted that the case highlights the ongoing need for protection for quilombola leaders and the importance of constitutional rights regarding their ancestral territories.