Moroccan police arrest Portuguese man wanted by Interpol

Moroccan authorities apprehended a 33-year-old Portuguese man in Tangier on Sunday, following his escape from a high-security Portuguese prison in early September, Morocco World News reports.

The suspect, who was wanted by both Interpol and Portuguese authorities, entered Morocco illegally before being apprehended, according to a statement by the police, who said they were tipped off by intelligence from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance

Before his escape, the individual was serving a 25-year prison sentence in Portugal for his involvement in a criminal network.  His crimes involved drug trafficking, armed robberies and kidnappings.

On September 7th, he was among five inmates, aged between 33 and 61, who managed to escape from Vale de Judeus prison, located 18 miles north of Lisbon, Reuters reports. The group, which included nationals from Argentina, Britain, Georgia, and Portugal, used a ladder to scale the prison wall.

Currently, the captured fugitive remains in detention in Morocco, awaiting extradition proceedings.

The Moroccan police emphasized the country's strong commitment to international security cooperation, particularly in identifying, tracking, and arresting individuals wanted for serious international criminal offenses.