MADRID–Spanish police foiled a plot to use a Zeppelin to help a prisoner break out of jail, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.

Investigators found a package sent from Italy containing sophisticated escape equipment that was to have been smuggled into the hilltop Salto del Negro prison in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, using a four-metre electronically controlled dirigible.

The breakout had been planned for Tuesday, a day before the detainee, whose name was given as Giulio B., was due to appear in court on charges of drug trafficking.

Three helpers had set up a camouflaged observation tent on a promontory 600 metres away from the prison, and spent months monitoring jail workers' movements with high-powered, wide-angle binoculars. They had electronic motion sensors to warn of people approaching.

The helpers were also found with maps of the prison and handwritten letters sent by Giulio B.

"The strategy consisted of using a four-metre radio-controlled zeppelin to help introduce night-vision equipment, climbing kit and camouflage paint to Giulio B.'s cell," the ministry said in a statement.

Police say the prisoner would have used the equipment to reach a point on the jail's perimeter that was not under constant observation. From there, police believe he would have descended to a waiting escape vehicle, according to the ministry.

The 51-year-old man was in jail awaiting trial after having been caught flying a seaplane loaded with 200 kilograms of cocaine from Mauritania.

Associated Press