The state suspects the prison guards helped escape • Justice Minister ordered to fire and arrest them • Assessment: The escape took several days

Huge drama in Paraguay: 75 prisoners from Brazil's Most Dangerous Gang (PPC) fled a prison in the eastern state, near the border with Brazil. Officials found out yesterday (Sunday) a routine check in the jail.

Sandbags and a tunnel shaft were found in the group's chambers. However, state authorities suspect this is a cover story of an escape made with the help of jail staff by bailiffs who received bribes. State Secretary of the Interior Euclidas Acquedo told the media that "We believe the escaped prisoners have been helped out of prison by the prison guards and that the sand tunnel and sandbags are only deception."

Tunnel outside prison / Photo: AFP

The minister added that gathered intelligence information showed that the prisoners had been smuggled away in small groups for several days, and that this happened when the prison manager was on private leave.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Cecilia Perez ordered that all prison guards be fired and detained. The authorities also offered a $ 80,000 reward to those who provided information about the escape. This was after one prisoner himself was arrested inside the excavated tunnel, but the authorities suspect that this was merely a deception. The gang in question is 3000 members and is the largest in Brazil.