An 800-pound emerald, which was labeled as "cursed," was ordered to be returned to Brazil from the United States.

The emerald, which was smuggled into the US over two decades, will soon be returned to its homeland as per a recent US judge's ruling.

The Bahia Emerald, weighing over 840 pounds, was mined in Bahia, Brazil in 2001 and has been dubbed "cursed" due to the protracted legal battles surrounding it.

Since its theft in 2001, the gem has been the subject of numerous court cases due to conflicting claims of ownership by various actors. In 2015, the DOJ obtained a restraining order to safeguard the gem, which was currently in the possession of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office. The Brazilian government has since sought custody of the gem.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled that the gem must be returned to Brazil due to insufficient evidence to prohibit its return.

Walton ruled that the Court must vacate the current stay in this case and grant the government's application after careful consideration of the parties' submissions.

Mayer Brown declared the decision a "victory" and detailed its efforts in returning the gemstone.

Mayer Brown collaborated with Brazil to submit a request under the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) between the US and Brazil to enforce a Brazilian forfeiture order after the Brazilians involved in the Emerald's illegal export had exhausted their appellate rights.

"The DOJ filed a motion with the US District Court for the District of Columbia in April 2022, requesting the court to order the forfeiture of Emerald under the MLAT."

The US District Court for the District of Columbia's Judge Walton ruled in favor of Brazil in a major win, ending the long-standing court battle over the DOJ's motion to forfeit the gem to Brazil. As a result, the Bahia Emerald will be repatriated back to its home country.