Rio Grande do Norte prison system reports 27 escapes

The prison system in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, has recorded at least seven escape incidents involving 27 inmates between May and September 2026. According to data from the State Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration (Seap), 14 of the fugitives have been recaptured, while 13 remain at large.

The Alcaçuz penal complex in Nísia Floresta has been the site of the highest number of occurrences. One major incident on July 31 involved 13 inmates leaving a cell, with 11 successfully escaping the facility.

The most recent escape occurred on September 28 at the Nova Cruz Public Jail, where seven inmates fled during sunlight exposure. While two were recaptured shortly after the incident, five individuals from that specific event remain at large.