Drug dealer attempts a daring prison break disguised as an old grandmother

A drug dealer attempted to escape from his prison cell by disguising himself as an elderly woman, using a wig and mask he smuggled in from outside.

Clodoaldo Antonio Felipe is serving a long sentence of 36 years in the Coronel Odenir Guimaraes prison in central Brazil and will not be released until he is 74 years old.

Felipe, who is part of the criminal organization Comando Vermelho, the largest drug trafficking network in Brazil, obviously did not want to wait that long and developed an elaborate plan for his exit.

The mask he wore was reportedly as good as any mask made in Hollywood and looked realistic enough for the 44-year-old to break free.

However, his plan failed because the prison guards did not notice the old woman coming in – and wanted to know how she managed to get into the prison without an ID.

The older lady's height also aroused suspicion. She seemed a little too tall for the guards to not notice her.

After female police officers searched the suspected perpetrator, they quickly realized that he was a man – and one of their own prisoners at that.

Police spokesman Andre Veloso said: “The prison guard did not recognize the elderly lady and therefore asked for her identification.

“He never thought it could be a prisoner trying to escape.”

Investigations are currently underway to find out where Felipe got the women's clothing and the realistic-looking mask, which sells for up to £840.

Pictures: CEN