Water distribution is carried out under police escort in a neighborhood of Fortaleza after threats from faction

The distribution of bottles of mineral water was caught being carried out with a police escort in Fortaleza. TV Verdes Mares received images showing two distribution trucks being accompanied by police officers in vehicles and motorcycles in the Lourdes neighborhood, also known as the Dunas neighborhood.

The image shows a problem faced in several neighborhoods in Fortaleza since the beginning of this month. Complaints investigated by g1 and TV Verdes Mares report the difficulties in marketing the product due to threats and extortion attempts carried out by the criminal faction Comando Vermelho.

According to a source, who will remain anonymous, traders have been the target of extortion by Comando Vermelho since October. At the time, people identified themselves as members of the faction and began to make demands for the service to operate. The water distribution escort began this November and continued at least until this week.

In a note, the Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense (SSPDS) informs that complaints that come to the attention of the body are duly investigated.

"The ministry reinforces that the information is checked with the help of Intelligence sectors that direct the actions of civil and military police officers. Overt and preventive policing is being reinforced, even before the information is confirmed", says the note.

In Fortaleza, investigations are conducted by the Civil Police, with the involvement of the Capital Police Department (DPC) and the Police Station for the Repression of Organized Criminal Actions (Draco).

In the city of Sertão Central, the interruption of local commerce led to the adoption of new water distribution logistics, with support from the Ceará Water and Sewage Company (Cagece) and security forces.

After g1 and TV Verdes Mares reported the situation in Banabuiú, residents of other locations began to report similar cases.

Cases were reported in neighborhoods of Fortaleza, in addition to the cities of Meruoca and Caridade — the latter city, in fact, is the same one that, in 2025, was left without internet due to faction attacks.

This Friday (13), a joint action by the Civil Police of Ceará and Piauí arrested a suspect investigated for involvement in extortion and threats against mineral water traders in Banabuiú. With the arrest, 14 people are detained during investigations into the case in the city.

On Thursday (2), two brothers were arrested on suspicion of involvement in extortion in Banabuiú. g1 found that the prisoners are Jose Edson Agostinho de Lima and Jose Edvaldo Lima Agostinho.

On November 6, a group of suspects were arrested for similar actions in Fortaleza. Operating in the Parque Dois Irmãos neighborhood, in Fortaleza, the group intimidated water sellers and charged R$1.50 per bottle.

According to information from the custody hearing held with the suspects, the charge began to be carried out after the head of Comando Vermelho in the region "leased" some communities in the neighborhood for exploration.

The group's suspects had their arrest in the act converted into preventive detention, that is, when there is no set period for it to end.