Paraguay hands over Silvinei Vasques to the PF on the border with Brazil

The Paraguayan police handed over, on Friday evening (26/12), the former director general of the Federal Highway Police (PRF), Silvinei Vasques, to the Federal Police (PF), on the border with Brazil. Arrested in Asunción, after trying to leave the country with a false passport, he must now be taken by the PF to Brasilia (DF).

Silvinei Vasques was arrested in the early hours of this Friday at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción. According to authorities, he was trying to board a flight with a stopover in Panama and a final destination in El Salvador, using irregular documents.

The arrest took place before boarding. There are two daily flights between Paraguay and Panama: one at 1:44 a.m. and the other at 6:42 a.m. Authorities are investigating which of them Silvinei intended to travel on.

After the arrest, Brazilian diplomatic sources reported that Paraguay began negotiations for the summary expulsion of the Brazilian, a procedure which resulted in his handing over to Brazilian authorities.

8 imagesClose the modal.1 of 8

Silvinei Vaques arrested

Reproduction2 of 8

Hooded and handcuffed, the former director of the PRF was taken under escort to the border with Brazil after being arrested in Paraguay with false papers

Airport Police Department3 of 8

Hooded and handcuffed, the former director of the PRF was taken under escort to the border with Brazil after being arrested in Paraguay with false papers

Airport Police Department4 of 8

Hooded and handcuffed, the former director of the PRF was taken under escort to the border with Brazil after being arrested in Paraguay with false papers

National Department of Migration5 out of 8

Identification photo of Silvinei Vasques taken by Paraguayan police highlighting a mole on his neck

Reproduction

Former PRF director Silvinei Vasques was arrested in Paraguay while trying to leave Brazil in a rental car, with a fake passport and pet items

Reproduction/Social networks7 of 8

Former PRF director Silvinei Vasques was arrested in Paraguay while trying to leave Brazil in a rental car, with a fake passport and pet items

Reproduction/Social Media8 of 8

Silvinei Vasques was director of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Vinícius Schmidt/Metrópoles

Escape attempt

Sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in prison by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for participation in the coup plot, Silvinei respected precautionary measures in Santa Catarina, including the use of an electronic ankle bracelet and a ban on leaving the country.
According to the Federal Police, the former director of the PRF broke the electronic bracelet on his ankle before leaving Brazil for Paraguay.
Following the violation of surveillance equipment, alerts were issued to Brazilian and international authorities.
Preliminary information indicates that Silvinei attempted to change a passport photo to pass through immigration control. However, the attempt was already being monitored and the PF detachment in Paraguay had previously notified the local police.

Sentence to the STF

Silvinei Vasques was convicted by the first panel of the STF in the trial of the so-called core 2 of the coup plot. According to the Court, the group was responsible for preparing the so-called “coup d’état project”, in addition to monitoring and planning actions against the authorities, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

The former PRF director also weighed in against his actions to make it difficult for voters to travel from the Northeast in the 2022 election runoff.

Silvinei’s sentence was handed down on December 16, but is not yet final. The defense remains on schedule to present appeals, including for violation of embargoes.