Rio de Janeiro crime: Verônica Costa arrest maintained and fugitives recaptured

In Rio de Janeiro, the judiciary has maintained the arrest of former city councilor Verônica Costa, known as ‘Mãe Loira do Funk’. Costa was sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison for torturing her former partner, Márcio Costa. The conviction became final after a 15-year legal battle spanning multiple court levels. While her defense has requested a criminal review, Costa also faces potential new charges for animal cruelty after allegedly abandoning two dogs during her flight from authorities.

Separately, two high-profile foreign inmates have been recaptured following an escape attempt from the Bangu prison complex. Gerel Lusiano Palm, a Dutch national wanted by Interpol for international drug trafficking, and Juan Estebán Avendaño Perez, a Colombian national suspected of ties to the Medellín Cartel, managed to briefly evade security by overpowering an agent. Both men have since been transferred to Bangu 1, where they are held under a strict disciplinary isolation regime.