Lewandowski says escape does not affect federal prison security

The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, arrived this Sunday morning in Mossoró, in Rio Grande do Norte, where he stated that the escape of inmates from the maximum security federal prison does not compromise the security of the system.

“It is a problem that, I have to say, does not under any circumstances affect the security of the five federal prison units, but it is a localized problem and that will soon be overcome with everyone’s collaboration”, he stated in a press conference held jointly with the press with the state governor, Fátima Bezerra (PT).

The minister took the opportunity to praise the “combination of the teams and the efforts made so far”, and stated that the joint work to rescue the criminals is an opportunity to show that Brazil is united in “federative dialogue, in republican relations and in democratic dialogue”. Lewandowski also stated that he is certain that the “adverse situation” will be overcome soon.

In Mossoró, Lewandowski will hold meetings at the Federal Police (PF) headquarters with the heads of the teams searching for the fugitives. On Friday night, Deibson Cabral Nascimento, 33, and Rogério da Silva Mendonça, 35, took a family hostage for 4 hours.

They ate, made cell phone calls with interlocutors in Rio de Janeiro and fled again with supplies. Both inmates are associated with Comando Vermelho, a criminal faction led by Fernandinho Beira-Mar, who is also detained in the Mossoró maximum security penitentiary. The fugitives have been pursued since Wednesday morning (14), when the escape was detected.

Minister Lewandowski ordered the creation of a task force to investigate the conditions of the escape and recapture the detainees. Around 300 men were mobilized for the search. The National Secretary of Penal Policies of the Ministry of Justice, André Garcia, traveled to Mossoró since the search began.