A Portuguese inmate who escaped from a high-security prison near Lisbon last month has been recaptured in Morocco, authorities confirmed Monday.
The inmate, Fabio Loureiro, 33, was arrested late Sunday in Tangier by Moroccan police.
Portuguese police have stated that Loureiro is one of five convicts who staged a daring escape from the Vale de Judeus prison on September 7.
The escape occurred during visiting hours when guards were occupied, allowing the inmates to flee with the help of a long ladder supplied by an outside accomplice.
The escape included foreign nationals, but Loureiro is the only one who has been recaptured so far. The other four inmates remain at large.
According to Portuguese police, Loureiro will face a judge in Morocco before being extradited back to Portugal.
He is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for armed robbery, drug trafficking, extortion, and other crimes.
The prison guards’ union has expressed concerns about the facility’s staffing levels and security measures.
The union claims that inadequate staffing has been an issue, especially since the prison’s watchtowers were replaced with video surveillance systems.
Vale de Judeus prison has a capacity for 560 inmates, but union representatives believe it is not adequately equipped to handle security challenges.
