Lewandowski highlights the integration of security forces and says that fugitives from Mossoró are still in the region.

Government Agency – The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, met this Wednesday (13), in Mossoró (RN), with the coordinators of the police forces that are working on the search and capture operation of the two fugitives from the federal penitentiary located in the municipality.

In a press conference held at the Federal Police Station in Mossoró, he stated that the meetings with all security forces – Federal Police, Federal Highway Police, Federal Penitentiary Police, National Force, and local police – participating in the searches were productive in advancing the details of the operation.

“We have strong indications of the presence of the two fugitives in the region between Mossoró and Baraúna,” he emphasizes, citing a nearby municipality in Rio Grande do Norte. He explains that the pair were seen on March 2nd. “This sighting was confirmed by security forces and local residents,” the minister stated.

Furthermore, Lewandowski reiterated that, on Tuesday (12), the presence of the fugitives in a house in the region was confirmed by sniffer dogs. “They are surrounded. The conviction we have so far is that they remain in the perimeter,” he said.

The head of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security emphasized that there are two lines of investigation in the operation: investigative and prosecutorial. “The investigative line has already resulted in seven arrests of suspects accused of collaborating with the fugitives, and seized two vehicles. This is the result of cooperation between security forces. There is integration at different levels: federal, state, and even municipal, and we have some other planned actions with judicial authorizations that are being developed.”

Effective

Regarding the field searches, the minister assessed them as "very intense." Lewandowski further explained that the force of approximately 500 agents is working continuously not only to find them, but also to protect the population, considering the high level of dangerousness of the criminals.

During the press conference, the minister also informed that he would fly over the region later that Wednesday to assess the work of the security teams on the ground. "The region has very dense forest, so the searches are hampered not only by the flora, but also by the size of the area," he said, emphasizing that the teams are operating where there are indications of the criminals' presence. "We are locating their entire support network," the minister concluded.

Measures adopted in the Federal Penitentiary System

By order of the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, several measures were taken following the escape of two inmates from the federal penitentiary located in Mossoró:

1) Intervention at the federal penitentiary in Mossoró, with the removal of the unit's director on February 14th (the date of the escape), and of the staff responsible for the Intelligence, Security, and Administrative divisions.

2) Creation of the Multidisciplinary Committee of the National Secretariat for Penal Policies (Senappen) with the objective of periodically inspecting the physical structures and equipment used by the five federal penitentiaries;

3) Increased security levels in the five units of the Federal Penitentiary System;

4) Daily searches in all cells, exercise yards, and visiting rooms in the five federal penitentiaries, with weekly reports prepared for the management of each unit;

5) Determination for the immediate replacement of inoperative and/or non-recommended video surveillance cameras in the five federal prison units; implementation of a closed-circuit television system; acquisition of video surveillance and thermal cameras; installation of electric fences around the entire perimeter; reinforcement of the lighting structure inside the cells, in a way that makes it impossible or difficult for inmates to remove them;

6) Calling up surplus federal prison officers from the last competitive examination for Senappen;

7) Sending teams from the Federal Penitentiary Police to reinforce security at the federal penitentiary in Mossoró, as well as to contribute to the search for fugitives; and deploying the National Force, with 111 agents and 22 vehicles involved in the search operation;

8) Suspension of ordinary prisoner transfers; and measures for on-site inspections at the five federal penitentiaries, for a "technical building inspection report" of all structures;

9) Between March 1st and 3rd, Senappen carried out a rotation of 23 prisoners among federal penitentiaries to ensure the weakening of organized crime leadership. The rotation aims to prevent criminal organizations from coordinating within maximum security facilities.

10) The Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) opened a case for "disrespect of contractual stipulations" against Construtora Dantas, the company responsible for the renovation of the courtyard at the Mossoró federal prison. The construction company was in charge of the construction site for the renovation of the sunbathing area; and sent an official letter to the Federal Police, the Federal Revenue Service, and the Comptroller General's Office (CGU) requesting investigations into the company R7 Facilities, contracted for maintenance work at the penitentiary.