Ministry ends use of the National Force in the search for prison escapees in Mossoró

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has decided not to renew the use of the National Force in search operations for fugitives from the Federal Penitentiary of Mossoró (RN), which has reached its 44th day this Thursday (28), as confirmed by the ministry to People’s Gazette.

The renewal of the National Force’s employment, which had been authorized on March 20 for a period of 10 days, ends Friday (29). According to the ministry, the search operation is now entering a second phase, focusing on intelligence actions.

According to André Garcia, National Secretary of Penal Policies, of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), the focus will now be on the investigation conducted by the Federal Police, “but with the permanence of local forces, with intense action by the Military and Civil”.

The secretary also stated, according to the ministry, that the National Penal Force will also remain in Mossoró to reinforce security in the prison unit and support local staff. “We continue the concentrated effort for recapture,” he said.

The ministry also informed that intelligence actions take place within the scope of the Integrated Force to Combat Organized Crime (FICCO), made up of the Federal, Civil, Federal Highway (PRF), Military (PM) and Penal police. The PRF, in fact, continues in the city of Rio Grande do Norte to support search operations, with operational reinforcement.

First escape from the federal penitentiary system

Fugitives Deibson Nascimento and Rogério Mendonça escaped from the maximum security unit on February 14th. Since then, search operations have focused on the areas between the neighboring cities of Mossoró and Baraúna.

Authorization for the use of the National Force in searches was granted on February 19 by the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski. A contingent of 100 men and 20 vehicles was moved to Mossoró to assist in the operations.

The search operations mobilized helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and other advanced technological equipment, in addition to more than 500 agents, including personnel from the National Force and special teams from the Federal Police and the Federal Highway Police.

The inmates’ escape occurred during the early hours of the morning after they opened a hole behind a lamp in the prison and cut two wire fences using tools from a work in progress in the area.

During their escape, the fugitives broke into three homes and took a family hostage. According to investigations by the Federal Police, the Red Command, to which they belonged, may have helped finance the escape, paying R$5,000 to the owner of a farm to help hide the fugitives on his property.

This was the first escape in the history of the federal penitentiary system created in 2006, which includes other units in Brasília (DF), Catanduvas (PR), Campo Grande (MS) and Porto Velho (RO).