Mass Escape from Prison in Paraguay by Dozens of Members of Brazilian PCC Gang
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the early hours of Sunday morning, January 19th,
a mass escape of dangerous members of the largest Brazilian criminal organization PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital – First Command of the Capital) from the Pedro Juan Caballero Regional Penitentiary in Paraguay occurred.
Approximately 90 of Paraguay’s most dangerous criminals, 75 of them considered extremely dangerous, escaped through a tunnel they had dug.
Originally it was assumed that over 79 convicts had escaped. Reports on the exact number of escaped prisoners are varying every hour. The official numbers have not yet been assessed.
The excavated tunnel required work by several men and weeks of execution time, according to the Minister of Justice.
A total of 200 bags were piled up in one of the cells, which contained the soil extracted to build the aforementioned tunnel.
The distance between the tunnel and the nearest sentry box is only approximately 25 meters, where at least one prison guard should be stationed. The next one is at least 70 meters away, according to area correspondent Gilberto Ruiz Díaz.
In December last year, the Minister of Justice Cecilia Perez said that they were aware of an alleged escape plan by members of the PCC.
The data suggested that some US$80,000 (R$320,000) were being offered to prison guards and police so that the criminals could escape. The minister said at the time that they were “reinforcing police and military coverage” in the Pedro Juan Caballero prison to prevent this.
The most alarming fact is that several escapees would have been involved in the riot at the San Pedro prison facility, in which a total of ten inmates died, some decapitated and others from stab wounds, the bodies of whom were later set on fire.
Prison Guards arrested
A total of 28 prison guards from the Pedro Juan Caballero Regional Penitentiary were arrested on Sunday by order of the Prosecutor’s Office. All will be investigated for the escape of 79 PCC prisoners.
The Prosecutor’s Office suspects that prison personnel was somehow involved in the escape of the dangerous inmates of the criminal group First Capital Command (PCC).
The investigations are intended to rule out or confirm that the prisoners were released.
Brazil on alert
Brazil activated its alarms and ordered the strengthening of security along the border with Paraguay, specifically in the area of Ponta Porã, a city bordering Pedro Juan Caballero.
The high official said that all available security agents were placed on alert, in addition to personnel from the Department of Border Operations (DOF) and the Military Highway Police (PRE).
Other troops are already on the move from the region to the border, to prevent other criminals from entering Brazilian territory.
Primeiro Comando da Capital (First Command of the Capital) is the largest Brazilian criminal organization, according to a 2012 Brazilian Government report, with almost 20,000 members, 6,000 of whom are in prison.
The criminal organization is based largely in the state of São Paulo and is active in at least 22 of the country’s 27 states, as well as in Paraguay and Bolivia.
Since its inception, PCC has been accountable for several criminal activities such as prison breaks, prison riots, drug trafficking, and highway robbery. The name refers to the state capital, the city of São Paulo.
Key Facts
— Deep Dive
— For the complete picture, read our in-depth guide: Paraguay: Washington's Most Valued Ally in Latin America
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