Former Brazilian Police Chief Silvinei Vasques Arrested in Paraguay After Fleeing Conviction

Former Brazilian Police Chief Apprehended in Paraguay

Silvinei Vasques, the former director of Brazil's Federal Highway Police (PRF), was arrested in Asunción, Paraguay, on Friday, December 26, 2025. The apprehension occurred at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport as Vasques, 50, was reportedly attempting to board a flight to El Salvador using false travel documents. His arrest follows his recent conviction and sentencing in Brazil for involvement in a plot to subvert the 2022 presidential election results.

Escape Attempt and Conviction Details

Vasques had been sentenced earlier in December to 24 years and six months in prison for his role in the alleged coup plot, a sentence initially to be served under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor. However, Brazilian authorities reported that Vasques broke his ankle monitor on Thursday, December 25, and subsequently drove a rented car across the border into Paraguay from Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina.

The charges against Vasques stemmed from his actions during the 2022 elections, where he was accused of deploying PRF officers to set up checkpoints in left-leaning areas. This move was allegedly intended to hinder voters from casting ballots for then-candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who ultimately defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.

Extradition and Broader Context

Following his arrest, Paraguayan authorities handed Vasques over to Brazilian federal police at the Friendship Bridge border crossing, linking Paraguay's Ciudad del Este with Brazil's Foz do Iguaçu. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had issued an order for Vasques' preventive detention after the escape attempt, converting his house arrest privileges to full imprisonment.

Vasques' case is part of a larger investigation into attempts to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 elections. Former President Jair Bolsonaro himself was convicted in September and is serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating the broader coup plot. Vasques was reportedly found with a fake Paraguayan passport and a card claiming he could not speak due to brain cancer treatment, which he stated left him deaf and mute. He also reportedly traveled with his dog.