"Penitentiary agents found the pigeons outside the Danilo Pinheiro prison but, fortunately, the birds did not have time to enter the prison building with the material," said Rosana Alberto.
Each pigeon was carrying a small bag containing a cellphone and charger, she said. They were caught in two successive days, last Wednesday and Thursday.
The pigeons are a new twist to an old story.
Criminal organizations like "Red Commando" in Rio de Janeiro or the "First Commando of the Capital" in Sao Paulo, which are well established in the prisons, have extensive supply networks.
They use accomplices, from lawyers to corrupt prison guards, to smuggle in drugs, weapons and cellphones to the detainees, according to the police.
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Image from www.gutenberg.org.