Prisoner had been on the run since 2018
A 45-year-old man with a history of violent crimes who had escaped Castelo Branco prison in the centre of Portugal in 2018 was arrested yesterday in Lagoa by GNR police.
The arrest happened during a routine traffic operation when the man ignored instructions from GNR agents to stop his car.
He was intercepted and arrested shortly after in Lagoa, the police force said.
It was later found that the man had escaped Castelo Branco prison in 2018 and has a criminal record of drug trafficking, theft, using firearms to threaten others, kidnapping, rape and forgery.
The escaped prisoner was also driving a car which did not have its updated inspection stamp and was doing so without a driver’s license. He also had €2,740 in his possession which he could not explain where the money was from.
The man was held at the local GNR station and is due to appear before a judge at Silves criminal court this Friday.