Interpol issues alert for two Brazilian fugitives from Bolivia's Palmasola prison

Interpol has issued an orange notice to assist in the identification and recapture of two Brazilian inmates, Alex Heleno da Silva and Fernando Junior da Silva, who escaped from the Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The escape occurred during the early hours of August 5 following a power outage. Preliminary investigations indicate the fugitives used tied bedsheets as ropes to descend from an internal structure and scale the perimeter wall.

Alex Heleno da Silva was awaiting extradition to Brazil, where he has a criminal record involving robbery and organized crime. He has also been linked to violent crimes in Santa Cruz and is suspected of being a member of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). Fernando Junior da Silva was serving a sentence for arms trafficking and faced investigations for murder and organized crime.

Bolivian authorities are coordinating with Brazilian police to determine the fugitives' escape route and whether they have left the country. The incident has triggered an internal investigation, resulting in three police officers being jailed to determine if security failures, negligence, or complicity facilitated the escape.