The escape of the Italian mobster Rocco Morabito from the Central Jail in June 2019 caused an international scandal with diplomatic consequences. The then Minister of the Interior, Eduardo Bonomi, made his position available, and for a whole week there were no public explanations about what happened. Months later it was learned that Bonomi had offered his resignation to President Tabaré Vázquez, who, however, ratified him in office.
The escape of Morabito, known as the “cocaine king” of Italy, is considered one of the most important in national history. His escape has been a recurring theme in national politics, and he often boomerangs back onto the agenda for different reasons and under different circumstances.
Since then, the political system has tried to overcome this scandal, but it has been in vain due to the questioned management of Minister Bonomi and the lack of resolution of the prosecutor who was in charge of the investigation, Ricardo Lackner. The latter, precisely he is no longer in the cause due to his new position at the head of a unit created by the Public Ministry to combat cybercrime.
However, despite efforts, the investigation remains “very extensive” and “very complex”, according to Lackner’s own words. Despite two accusations, one for complicity in the escape of the Italian mobster and another for irregularities committed during the transfers of the other heavy inmate that the Bonomi administration had in its prisons, the prosecutor failed to close his work and the questions surrounding this leak remain unanswered.
The capture of Morabito in Brazil and his subsequent extradition to Italy have not resolved the questions surrounding this escape of one of the most wanted criminals. The lack of responses has been a blow to confidence in the justice system and in the government’s ability to guarantee citizen security. In addition, it has generated concern about the possibility of complicity and corruption in the prison system and in the management of foreign prisoners.
