Renivaldo Figueiredo Lima, a Brazilian migrant convicted of raping a child, has been arrested in Ireland after evading capture for nearly 15 years. Lima, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, was found working on a farm in County Cavan, close to the border with Northern Ireland. He is now detained in Dublin's Cloverhill Prison and is expected to be deported to Brazil in the coming weeks.
Background of the Case
Lima fled Brazil in 2012 shortly before being convicted of raping a child. He had been living in Ireland under a false identity for at least a decade. The Interpol Red Notice, issued on April 7, requested law enforcement from 190 member states to arrest him if located. Gardai (Irish police) arrested Lima on April 20 after an anonymous tip-off led them to the farm where he was working.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
According to the Irish Mirror, officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau arrested Lima after establishing he was using false documents. Since Ireland has no extradition treaty with Brazil, he was not arrested on the Red Notice but on immigration offences. A source told the Irish Mirror: 'He was not arrested for extradition as there is no treaty, but he is being held after Immigration arrested him that is for deportation. So, no matter what, he is going back to Brazil.'
Deportation and Next Steps
Lima has been held at Cloverhill Prison since April, awaiting a deportation order. Reports indicate the order is likely to be executed within weeks, and Lima will be flown back to his native Campos Belos in northeast Brazil. Brazilian media first reported his arrest in Ireland this week. The case highlights the effectiveness of international police cooperation in tracking fugitives, even in the absence of formal extradition agreements.
