One of the five prisoners who escaped from Portugal’s high security Vale de Judeus prison has been arrested in Morocco. Fábio Loureiro was serving a 25 year sentence and was arrested in Tangier after jailbreak. His capture was made possible by the cooperation between Portuguese, Spanish, and Moroccan authorities.
Read More About: Portugal’s Attorney General Sets Deadline To Resolve The EDP Corruption Case
Fábio Loureiro’s Criminal Background
Loureiro escaped the prison on September 7. He and four other prisoners broke out of the prison during the morning shift change. The timing of the escape was important because it took advantage of the guard switch which allowed the men to slip away unnoticed. The news of their escape quickly spread across Portugal. Police warned that these men were dangerous and could resort to violence.
Fábio Loureiro has a nickname Cigano, which means gypsy. He had a long history of serious crimes. Loureiro was also known as the terror of the Algarve. Loureiro’s dangerous reputation made his capture a top priority for law enforcement.
Loureiro had spent part of his 25 year sentence at the time of the escape. His jailbreak and the time he spent on the run are likely to add more years to his prison term. He will probably face new charges for his role in the escape and for any illegal actions he may have committed while he was a fugitive.
How The Escape Happened
The prison break was bold and carefully planned. These prisoners used the guard shift change to escape on the morning of September 7. While the guards were switching shifts, they managed to get out without being stopped. It is still unclear how they pulled off the escape, but their actions were enough to trigger an immediate police response.
The Portuguese police acted quickly and started a massive search for the escaped prisoners. The police warned the public to be careful. They clarified that the fugitives are very dangerous and can turn to violence in order to maintain their safety.
Loureiro Arrested In Morocco After Jailbreak
Portuguese police, particularly the PJ Judicial Police, began searching for clues and gathering information about the fugitives the day after the escape. The criminal history of Loureiro made him a priority target. He had committed serious and violent crimes in the past, and police believed he would not stop to avoid going back to prison.
It became clear that Loureiro possibly escaped from Portugal, so other countries were quickly included in the search for him. Both Spain and Morocco joined in the manhunt to track down the escaped prisoner.
Loureiro’s arrest in Morocco was the result of detailed police work and surveillance. At first, the authorities did not release much information about how they found him. It was later revealed that the police had been watching Loureiro’s girlfriend since the day of the escape. Police tracked her to Morocco because they thought she was going to meet Loureiro.
It appears that Loureiro first traveled to Seville in Spain before crossing into Morocco. He was arrested in Tangier with a Portuguese partner who had been helping him evade capture. This man may have been involved in planning the escape from the prison.
Portuguese police praised the cooperation between all the authorities involved. Without the support of Spanish and Moroccan police, Loureiro’s capture will be delayed or more difficult.
Extradition And Legal Consequences
Now Loureiro will face a hearing before the Moroccan judicial authorities. Portugal has requested his extradition. Loureiro will return to Portugal to complete his prison sentence if the request is approved. He will also face new charges for his role in the escape.
When Loureiro is returned to Portugal he will be sent to Monsanto Prison which is the country’s highest security facility. Monsanto is known for holding the most dangerous criminals.
It is also believed to be the place where Loureiro first met some of the other prisoners who escaped with him. The authorities will take even stricter measures to prevent any future escape attempts this time.
Ongoing Search For The Other Escapees
The hunt for the other four escapees is ongoing. Fernando Ribeiro Ferreira who is another Portuguese prisoner is still on the run. The other escapees include Georgian Shergili Farjiani, Argentine Rodolfo Lohrmann, and British citizen Mark Cameron Roscaler. All of these men were in prison for violent crimes and police believed that Lohrmann was especially dangerous.
Authorities hope that the remaining escapees are still in Europe. There is a higher chance of their capture due to the close cooperation between European police forces. However, if any of them manage to flee to countries outside of Europe such as South America.
It will be very difficult to capture them and it will complicate the process of returning the fugitives to justice because many South American countries do not have extradition agreements with Portugal.
Protests By Prison Guards
Prison guards at Vale de Judeus held a vigil on the day Loureiro was arrested. The guards were protesting in support of their colleagues who had been blamed for the escape by the former prison director, Rui Abrunhosa Gonçalves. Gonçalves was fired after the escape and was criticized for allowing the prison break to happen.
The guards argue that the prison was understaffed and that they were overworked. They claim that the escape might have been avoided if they had more resources and better working conditions. The jailbreak has raised serious questions about prison security and staffing levels across the country.
