Hundreds of police hunt two escapees from a Brazilian maximum security prison

Hundreds of regional and federal police continued late into the night on Thursday, February 15, the hunt for two leaders of the Comando Vermelho (CV) criminal gang, who escaped early Wednesday morning from the Mossoro maximum security federal prison. in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, which until now was considered a no-escape situation. Brazil’s new Minister of Justice and Public Security, former Federal Supreme Court (STF) judge Ricardo Lewandowski, said this Thursday that the central government’s priority is to capture the two fugitives, whose names are already on the list of border control services and Interpol’s international wanted list.

Lewandowski, who took office just 13 days ago, clarified that the search is being carried out by 100 agents of the Federal Police (FF), sent specifically for this purpose to the region, 100 agents of the Federal Traffic Police (FDP), who control the roads, 100 agents of the regional police of Rio- Grande do Norte, the Military Police (PM) and the Civil Police (PC, which is the judicial branch), as well as criminal police agents specialized in the capture of fugitives. In addition to these human resources, which may be reinforced in the coming hours, the hunt is supported by three helicopters sent by the federal government, numerous drones and tracking dogs.

The two fugitives, Rogerio da Silva Mendonça, known as Querubim, and Deibson Cabral do Nascimento, known as Tatu, escaped early Wednesday morning through a hole they made in a metal plate in the ceiling of their cells through which wires pass. . power. They then, one by one, broke through at least six security barriers and finally, using large construction pliers they found on an interior construction site, broke through the fence surrounding the entire prison, only disappearing when their escape was discovered. , a few hours later.

The two fugitives, aged 35 and 33, who were housed in separate individual cells, are considered extremely dangerous and together are responsible for more than 80 crimes, including drug trafficking and murder. According to authorities, they are important leaders of the Comando Vermelho, the largest criminal group in Rio de Janeiro, created decades ago, but which today operates throughout Brazil and even in neighboring countries and is waging a bloody battle with the PCC, the Primeiro Comando from the capital of San Francisco. Paulo to control human trafficking in several states of the country and in the border region with Paraguay and Bolivia.

The Federal Maximum Security Prison, located a few kilometers from Mosoro, is one of five maximum security prisons run by the central government and none has recorded an escape in its 18 years of existence. Prisoners are monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV cameras installed both in the prison and in the National Penitentiary Department in Brasilia, they are kept in separate cells, and only leave their cells to, for example, go to the infirmary or sunbathe. handcuffed and under the supervision of armed guards, and neither lawyers nor family members can have physical contact with them; dates take place in the living room, where both parties are separated by armored glass.

As soon as the escape was discovered, Ricardo Lewandowski immediately fired all prison directors, appointed a federal representative with full powers, and sent the central government’s minister of penitentiary affairs, André García, as well as additional prison guards and teams to Mossoro to investigate. incident, escape. There is still no evidence of corruption and deliberate assistance, which, however, is also not completely ruled out, but grotesque shortcomings have been discovered, such as turning off part of the CCTV cameras, turning off part of the light and, what could be decisive, is that the tools used in prison reform, were scattered throughout.