[REVISION HISTORY]

Law enforcement operations against utility theft in Mato Grâ

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-20 18:55 UTC → 2026-10-22 12:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Authorities in Mato Grosso have conducted multiple law enforcement operations targeting the theft of electrical resources and related criminal activities. In September 2026, the ‘Operação Energia Limpa’ task force targeted electricity theft across Rondonópolis, Primavera do Leste, and Cuiabá. The operation identified various methods of fraud, including direct connections to the power grid and the use of magnetic devices to interfere with meters at businesses such as restaurants, pizzerias, and nightclubs. In Rondonópolis, a restaurant and a pub were found using direct connections, while in Primavera do Leste, a pizzeria used a magnetic device and a nightclub bypassed metering entirely. In Cuiabá’s Morada da Serra region, a beauty salon and motorcycle workshop were also caught using illegal connections. Four individuals were taken into custody. In October 2026, the focus expanded with ‘Operação Via do Cobre’ in Cuiabá, an integrated effort to combat the theft, robbery, and fencing of copper cables and wires. During inspections in the Novo Colorado neighborhood, forensic experts from Politec identified significant environmental crimes linked to the illegal copper trade. Authorities inspected three commercial and industrial establishments, resulting in their closure. One proprietor was arrested for receiving stolen goods, tampering with vehicle identification, and electricity theft. ~~Investigators discovered large quantities of copper and aluminum without proof of origin, evidence of plastic burning to extract copper, and oil leaking directly into the soil.~~ Further operations in mid-October expanded the scope to include organized crime and broader utility fraud. ‘Operação Ad Rem’ targeted the financial structures of criminal factions, resulting in the seizure of five properties and the arrest of a financial manager. Simultaneously, ‘Operação Armadilha’ targeted gangs using fake negotiations to ambush merchants. Efforts to combat energy theft continued through ‘Operação Circuito Fechado’ and ‘Operação Energia Limpa,’ which identified illegal connections at 12 locations in Várzea ~~Grande and uncovered a mining operation in Cuiabá using clandestine connections to bypass meters.~~ Grande.

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