Authorities said they will request the transfer of alias "Colombia" to a maximum security federal prison to prevent a new escape. | Photo: Prensa Latina

Brasilia, December 21 (RHC)-- Brazil's Federal Police (PF) arrested on Tuesday the alleged mastermind of the murders of English journalist Dom Phillips and indigenist Bruno Aráujo last June in the Amazon region, after being declared a fugitive from justice.

According to information released by the PF, they made the arrest of the fugitive from justice known as "Colombia," who is accused of heading a criminal society dedicated to illegal fishing.  "It should be noted that he is also a suspect in the murder of Bruno Pereira Araújo and Dom Phillips, whose investigation is still ongoing," said the police source.

The suspect was released on parole last October, after paying bail and restriction of movement within the city of Manaus, with an electronic anklet.  "His imprisonment was again decreed by the Federal Justice of Tabatinga", indicate the security forces, in the border segment shared by Brazil, Peru and Colombia because he failed to comply with the conditions imposed for his freedom.

According to the authorities, the prisoner will be inserted into the penal system and they will request his transfer to a maximum security federal prison to avoid a new escape.  Police have also stated at various times that the identity of the subject is still not entirely clear, as during investigations he initially showed a Peruvian document, but also carried a Brazilian one.

For this reason, he was arrested and the police investigated to attribute the name of Rubén Darío da Silva Villar, of Colombian nationality, but this data has not been fully verified either.

Colombia was linked to the death of Phillips and Aráujo by some witnesses and by the confessions of two of the seven accused in the case.