Paraguay: Cell phones seized from escapees' cell in Misiones prison

Authorities in Misiones, Paraguay, have seized two cell phones from the prison cell occupied by two inmates who escaped earlier this week. Ignacio Cubilla and Pascual Benítez fled the Misiones Regional Penitentiary in the early hours of Tuesday.

The phones were found in cell number 3 of the admission block during a search on Wednesday. They were in the possession of Roque López Marecos and Santiago Vázquez Melgarejo, who shared the cell with the fugitives. Cubilla is serving a 13-year sentence for drug trafficking, while Benítez was sentenced to 26 years for intentional homicide.

Police Commissioner Herminio Alderete, head of Prevention and Security for the Misiones department, stated that the seizure is part of the ongoing investigation into the escape. The confiscated phones, a Samsung J8 and a Samsung A13, will undergo forensic analysis. Alderete confirmed the search for Cubilla and Benítez is ongoing, with various investigative units deployed across the department.

Alderete appealed to the public for any information that could aid in locating and capturing the two escaped prisoners, assuring that all tips will be verified. The investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the inmates' evasion.

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Durante el procedimiento fueron incautados dos teléfonos celulares que serán sometidos a peritajes. Se trata de un Samsung J8, de color negro, perteneciente a Roque López Mareco, y un Samsung A13, también de color negro, propiedad de Santiago Vázquez Melgarejo. Ambos eran compañeros de celda de los dos internos fugados.