Paraguay Detains Ex-PRF Chief Silvinei Vasques During Attempted Flight to El Salvador

Overview

• Paraguayan authorities detained Vasques at Asunción’s Silvio Pettirossi airport as he tried to board a flight to El Salvador, according to Brazil’s Federal Police director.
• He presented an original Paraguayan passport that did not match his identity, and police in Paraguay confirmed who he was after sharing a photo with Brazilian investigators.
• Court monitoring shows he left his residence in São José (SC) on December 24 with a rented car and luggage, ruptured his ankle monitor, and the device later lost GPS and data signals.
• After reports of the breach, Brazil issued border alerts and activated its police liaison in Paraguay; he was placed at the disposal of the Paraguayan Public Ministry pending a custody hearing and steps to return him to Brazil.
• Vasques was sentenced on December 16 by the Supreme Federal Court to 24 years and 6 months for his role in the 2022 plot, including PRF operations alleged to hinder voter access in the Northeast.