Brazil’s Ex-PRF Chief Silvinei Vasques Arrested in Paraguay While Trying to Fly to El Salvador

Overview

• Paraguayan authorities detained Vasques at Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asunción as he attempted to travel to El Salvador using an original Paraguayan passport that did not match his identity, according to Brazil’s Federal Police.
• Federal Police records indicate his ankle monitor lost GPS and then GPRS signal on Dec. 25 after he left his Santa Catarina residence the previous night in a rented Volkswagen Polo with bags, pet supplies, and a dog.
• He was placed at Paraguay’s Public Ministry for identification and a custody hearing, following Brazilian border alerts and coordination through the PF attaché in the neighboring country.
• Investigators say Paraguayan officers sent his photo to Brazilian counterparts to confirm who he was before the airport arrest and subsequent handover procedures.
• On Dec. 16, the STF First Panel sentenced Vasques to 24 years and six months for his role in the 2022 coup-related scheme, including directing PRF operations that hindered voter movement in the Northeast.