The seventh section of the Provincial Court of Cádiz in Algeciras issued a search and capture order for Jesús Heredia, identified as the leader of the Los Pantoja drug trafficking clan, after he allegedly escaped while on a prison leave.

Sources within the penitentiary system confirmed that the incident occurred earlier this week.

Heredia was serving his sentence at the El Dueso prison in Cantabria but had recently been approved for progression to a semi-liberty regime, indicating he was slated to complete his sentence under less restrictive conditions.

When inmates transition to this third grade status, it is typical for them to be released on a Friday and to return to their designated correctional institution that following Monday to fulfill the remainder of their sentence under the more lenient regime.

In this case, Jesús Heredia had chosen the Algeciras Center for Social Integration (CIS), the most convenient location close to his residence.

He was granted several days of leave—effectively a temporary permit—allowing him to manage his transportation back to the facility.

However, Heredia failed to report to the CIS of Algeciras this week as required, prompting the authorities to issue a warrant for his capture.

Heredia previously served as a lieutenant to Abdellah El Haj Sadek El Menbri, also known as 'El Messi' of hashish, and took over leadership of the narcotics operation in the region following El Menbri's escape to Morocco.

He is currently involved in a legal proceeding regarding the Rúa Mar vessel, which sank in 2020 with six crew members onboard, with a trial date set for May 5 at the Algeciras courthouse.

Born in the Algeciras neighborhood of El Saladillo, Heredia grew up in an area known for its challenges, eventually witnessing the rise of figures like El Menbri.

Initially, he worked as an organizer of logistics known as 'collas,' facilitating the transport of drug shipments along the coastline.

Over time, he climbed the ranks within the narcotics trade, ultimately becoming a key associate to one of Spain's most influential drug traffickers.

Institutional officials from the penitentiary services acknowledge a notable challenge regarding individuals who do not return to prison after receiving temporary leave.

According to recent data, a total of 454 inmates did not return to their facilities in 2024 vis-à-vis their temporary release, a slight decrease from 456 in 2023, which marked the highest number in the past four years.

Further statistics indicate that only the pandemic effectively restrained a rising trend; in 2019, 368 individuals did not return after a leave, followed by 269 in 2020, a reduction of 27%.

Nevertheless, the numbers rose again, with 376 absconding in 2021, a 29% increase, and 435 in 2022, marking a 24% rise from the previous year.

The prison workers' union, TU ABANDONO ME PUEDE MATAR (TAMPM), asserts that the current policy concerning temporary prison permits is generating controversial situations within correctional facilities.

They argue that the administration is incentivizing the release of inmates to showcase the effectiveness of its policies, despite concerns over the preparedness of individuals for such privileges.

In a significant policy change made three years ago, the penitentiary services altered internal instructions to facilitate the granting of leave even to those inmates who had previously faced disciplinary sanctions for serious offenses.

This amendment to the Instructive Directive 1/2012 effectively removed historical infractions from consideration when evaluating an inmate's conduct for leave eligibility.