Lewandowski denies political pressure to arrest Mossoró fugitives

The Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, denied that he was receiving political pressure to arrest the two fugitives from the federal penitentiary of Mossoró (RN) who were recaptured during the afternoon of this Thursday (4), in Marabá, Pará, after 50 days of the escape. The duo is part of Comando Vermelho (CV) and would have received help from other members of the faction.

“We work here technically, we do not receive pressure from any side, much less political pressure. Of course, dialogue with the Palácio do Planalto and other authorities, including the National Congress, is always very welcome. Yes, I received a call from President Lula congratulating us […] President Lula is very satisfied, not with the success of the minister, but with the success of the Brazilian State and the country’s security forces”, said Lewandowski during a press conference held this Thursday.

Furthermore, according to the minister, the fugitives received help from other criminals in the escape process and planned to leave the country in “new” and “well-equipped” cars. A rifle that was in the possession of one of the criminals was also seized.

Along with the two fugitives, four other people who were helping to escape were arrested. In the words of the minister, “the fugitives from Mossoró were on a crime train”.

“They were found approximately 1,600 km from the location of their escape, which shows that they were helped by external criminals, had assistance from accomplices and criminal organizations to which they belonged. They were heading abroad”, added the minister.

Lewandowski also informed that the two fugitives will be taken back to the Mossoró penitentiary. The minister said that the penitentiary is undergoing “improvement” in security and ruled out any possibility of other escapes.

According to the director general of the Federal Police (PF), Andrei Rodrigues, the agents involved in the recapture were monitoring the movement of criminals and waiting for the best moment to approach them. Rodrigues highlighted that the arrest was carried out without resistance.