Brazilian police are searching for one of Rio de Janeiro's most dangerous drug lords, Jean Carlos dos Santos, who escaped from prison along with two inmates, the BBC reported.

The three inmates escaped from Bangu Prison by tying up sheets and descending from the prison window into a garbage dump.

Prison officials said Sunday that an investigation was underway to determine the exact circumstances of this latest escape.

Visits to the prison have been suspended, and 18 inmates linked to Dos Santos have been transferred to other prisons.

Jean Carlos dos Santos, 37, was serving a prison sentence for the murder of his lawyer because he was unable to secure the release of two gang members.

Dos Santos had been in prison since 2017.

Before his arrest, he controlled much of the drug trade in an area of Rio de Janeiro.