Overview

• Alan Leandro da Silva, 32, spent two days using a broom handle and nail to dig a hole in his cell wall at Rio Branco Penitentiary.
• Guards detected unusual movement on June 16 and summoned firefighters after da Silva became stuck halfway through the opening.
• Fire department crews drilled around his torso to free him without causing significant injury, and da Silva received first aid before being returned to his cell.
• Authorities have launched an inquiry into how the inmate obtained the improvised tools and are questioning fellow prisoners about possible assistance.
• The incident echoes a 2018 tunnel escape attempt in Roraima that ended in a prisoner’s death, underscoring persistent security challenges in Brazil’s penitentiaries.