Over 90 inmates escaped from prison in Paraguay

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Paraguay's justice minister has confirmed that 91 "highly dangerous" inmates escaped from prison, saying it was a well-planned jailbreak.

The inmates escaped from Pedro Juan Caballero Prison early Sunday through a tunnel, Justice Minister Cecilia Perez said on Sunday, according to Paraguayan television network Telefuturo.

Perez said one prisoner was quickly recaptured but the rest was not found yet.

"It is impossible that the prison officials have not seen the amount of sand gathered in the cells," she said, adding: "It is not something you can do overnight, there is a strong suspicion that officials are involved in the corruption scheme."

The escapees are "highly dangerous," she warned -- as the majority of them, at least 75, were the members of Brazilian criminal organizations and drug cartels First Command of the Capital and Vermelho Command.

Perez also informed that the director of the prison and head of security were discharged from their posts.