BUENOS AIRES: Argentina on Monday hunted three killer drug dealers who suspiciously escaped from a top-security jail, with officials alleging they were linked to political dirty tricks.
Cristian Lanatta, 40, his brother Martin, 41, and Victor Schillaci, 33, escaped on Sunday from the prison west of Buenos Aires, where they were serving life sentences for a drug-related triple killing.
"We have made an international request for their capture," State Security Secretary Eugenio Burzaco said.
He ordered "border checks to prevent them from fleeing and collaboration in recapturing them."
The three convicts overpowered a guard at the General Alvear prison and escaped unhindered in a truck, wearing prison staff uniforms.
"In this type of escape there is always a degree of complicity," said Burzaco.
"It is very difficult to escape from a prison without someone inside helping."
Martin Lanatta sparked a scandal during campaigning for last month's election, in which Argentina's new conservative president, Mauricio Macri, beat the left-wing allies of his predecessor Cristina Kirchner.
Lanatta alleged during a television interview conducted in the prison that a senior ally of Kirchner was involved in drug crimes.
Damaged by the claim, the target of his allegation, Anibal Fernandez, lost his bid to be elected to the strategic post of governor of Buenos Aires province.
Martin Lanatta's lawyer Roberto Casorla later alleged on television that his client had lied "in order to get something in return."
In a further radio interview on Monday, he alleged foul play in Lanatta's escape.
Various other officials also voiced suspicion about it, including another ally of Kirchner, lawmaker Gabriela Cerrutti.
"Now we know what the real price was that Lanatta agreed to for making his false accusation against Anibal Fernandez," she wrote on Facebook.
The 2008 killings for which the three were convicted were linked to the trafficking in Mexico of ephedrine, a medicine that is also used as an illegal stimulant.
The convicted mastermind of the crime, Esteban Perez Corradi, 37, has been on the run for several years from US authorities.
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