French prisoner hides inside luggage in 'coordinated escape'

International

A prisoner at the Lyon-Corbas detention center in southeast France managed to escape by hiding inside another inmate’s luggage, prompting authorities to open a full criminal investigation into what is being treated as a potentially coordinated escape.

According to prison officials, the escape took place on Friday, July 11, when the detainee concealed himself in the belongings of a fellow inmate who was scheduled for release, a report by BBC stated.

The escapee successfully exited the facility undetected.

A spokesperson for the prison confirmed the details to local media, stating, "He took advantage of the liberation of his fellow inmate to hide himself in his luggage and get out.”

The incident has raised serious concerns within the French justice system.

Judicial authorities have opened an official probe under suspicions of “escape as part of an organized gang” and “criminal conspiracy.”

Investigators suspect that the act may have been planned in advance and potentially involved external or internal assistance.

The prisoner who escaped was reportedly serving multiple sentences and is believed to have ties to organized crime networks.

Authorities have not released his identity, citing security and operational concerns.

Lyon-Corbas prison, which has faced ongoing criticism for overcrowding, was housing approximately 1,200 inmates as of May 1—far exceeding its intended capacity of 678. The Lyon Bar Association previously warned that such conditions increased the risk of security breaches and compromised the safety of both inmates and staff.

A representative from the prison administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the complexity of the escape, describing it as an operation unlikely to have succeeded without planning.

“This was an elaborate move. It’s not something one can do without help or prior planning,” the official said.

Law enforcement agencies across France have since been alerted as the manhunt continues. Meanwhile, internal reviews of the facility’s security measures are underway.

The Ministry of Justice has yet to issue a formal public statement on the matter.

The escape has sparked renewed public debate over the conditions and management of correctional facilities in France, particularly those with extreme inmate congestion.(Edmie Rocsan, UV Comm Intern)