Once animals start getting involved in the crime of smuggling, you know things have gone bad. On New Year’s Day, a cat was caught carrying objects wrapped around its body with tape by an on-duty guard at the northern Brazilian prison, named Presídio Desembargador Luiz de Oliveira Souza (PDLOS). According to a statement, the contraband items included: a cell phone and charger, three batteries, a memory card, two drills for concrete, two saws, and an earphone.

The black and white feline felon made a conspicuous entrance as it crossed the main gate of the prison in Arapiraca, where it was first spotted. Alden Levine of CNN reported that local officials deem the confiscated items to be used to help the prisoners break free from jail. Possibly, the drills and saws could be used to dig tunnels, while the phone was to communicate with people outside the prison cells.

Attempting to escape prison walls is not unusual for Brazilian inmates. Just last month, Rafael Valadao, 28, attempted to be break free by crawling out of his cell via a drilled opening, only to have his upper body on one side of the hole, with his overweight belly on the other. In August, Sidney da Cruz, 24, and Carlos Pereira, 19, attempted to escape another prison disguised as garbage by hiding inside plastic trash bags.

After inspection, it was found that the cat is no stranger to the Alagoas jail, it has been witnessed coming in and out several times. According to Luiz de Oliveira Souza, prison officer, the cat has been raised by the inmates and very often, their relatives would take it home after a prison visit. The officer must have been impressed by this new escape tactic, training an animal so that it returned back to the prison while carrying items is a jackpot idea, although the attempt failed.

Currently, 263 inmates reside in the Brazilian prison located in the city of Arapiraca with a population equivalent to 215,000 people in the state of Alagoas. Local authorities have not put this case to rest and are still investigating all possible origins for this odd cat felony. The captured animal was taken to animal control.

Brazilian media reported that all detainees in the prison of Arapiraca are considered as suspects in this failed jailbreak plot. “It’s tough to find out who’s responsible for the action as the cat doesn’t speak,” a prison spokesperson told Estado de S.Paulo, a local paper.

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About the author

Yasmin Pascual Khalil
Being an Egyptian/Filipino, Yasmin was born in Oman and raised in Saudi Arabia, with a open mindset in appreciation of diversity. She loves exploring languages and interacting with people from all walks of life. Yasmin has covered stories in the following categories: Local + World News, Entertainment News, Offbeat News, and Lifestyle. She can be contacted at yasmin.khalil@toonarimedia.com.