Siak, Riau. Three death row inmates convicted in a major drug-trafficking case escaped from a detention center in Siak, Riau Province, early Sunday, but two of them have since been captured, local authorities said.

The fugitives — Satria Adi Putra, 30, Safrudis, 32, and Epi Saputra, 34 -- had been sentenced to death for smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine and were linked to an international narcotics network, according to officials.

Riau’s regional head of corrections, Maizar, said two of the inmates were quickly apprehended while one remains at large.

“We have recaptured Satria Adi Putra and Safrudis. Epi Saputra is still being pursued by a joint task force,” Maizar said on Monday.

He described the jailbreak as a well-planned operation, with the prisoners exploiting a heavy rainstorm to mask the sound of metal being cut from their cell door. The inmates used a grinding blade to saw through the bars while five other cellmates slept.

“The downpour muffled the noise of the metal being cut. They even covered the grinder marks with cigarette ash to avoid detection,” Maizar explained.

After cutting through the door, the three climbed onto the prison office roof to make their escape.

Guards discovered the breakout after hearing suspicious noises on the roof and spotting movement through surveillance cameras. Two inmates were captured near the prison soon after, while the third escaped and is now being hunted by a joint police and military team.

“We’re confident the remaining fugitive will be caught soon. A special task force has been deployed and the pursuit continues,” Maizar said.

The five other inmates who shared the cell have since been relocated for security reasons, and the Corrections Directorate has launched an internal investigation to determine whether any negligence contributed to the escape.

Add as a preferred source on Google +