Master Escapee Taulant Toma Arrested: 4 Breakouts

Spanish National Police have arrested Taulant Toma, the 42-year-old Albanian fugitive known across Europe as the master escapee, after he managed to break out of four different prisons in Italy and Belgium. Officers tracked him to the Campclar district of Tarragona and detained him on Sunday 23 August 2026, ending an eight-month international manhunt that began with his December 2025 escape from a maximum-security facility in Milan.

Who is Taulant Toma, the 'master escapee'?

Born in Albania, Taulant Toma earned his nickname after four successful jailbreaks over 16 years. His first came in 2009 at age 25, when he used bedsheets to escape from Terni prison in Italy, where he was serving time for armed robbery. Two months later he was recaptured in Parma, only to escape again four years later using knotted sheets.

His most dramatic escape came in 2013 from Lantin prison in Belgium, where he scaled the outer wall using a human pyramid formed by fellow inmates and jumped six metres to a getaway car. In December 2025, he escaped from Opera maximum-security prison near Milan by sawing through cell bars with a file and lowering himself on knotted sheets and broom handles.

The European fugitive tracking system has repeatedly struggled to keep Toma behind bars.

How Spanish police finally caught him

According to El País and the Spanish National Police, Toma had been living in Spain since January under high-quality forged documents. He was previously detained in Girona for weapons and explosives possession. Officers identified him in Tarragona by his distinctive tattoos and a scar on his right cheek.

During the arrest, Toma resisted and a companion tried to discard a Sig Sauer pistol in nearby bushes. Police recovered the weapon and two suspected counterfeit €500 banknotes. A Spanish judge denied bail and ordered him held at Mas d'Enric prison while extradition to Italy is processed.

'Staff have already been warned about his profile,' the lead Spanish police inspector told El País.

Four prison escapes: a timeline

• 2009 – Terni, Italy: Escaped using bedsheets after armed robbery conviction.
• 2013 – Parma, Italy: Escaped again with knotted sheets.
• 2013 – Lantin, Belgium: Scaled the wall via human pyramid and six-metre jump.
• December 2025 – Opera, Milan: Sawed through bars, descended on sheets and broom handles.

The case echoes high-profile prison breakouts in Europe, though few fugitives have matched Toma's four successes.

What happens next? Extradition and impact

Because Toma still faces outstanding sentences in Italy, he is expected to be returned there once extradition paperwork is complete. Until then, he remains in Mas d'Enric prison in Tarragona, in northeastern Spain. Authorities are still searching for an Albanian accomplice who allegedly assaulted officers during the arrest.

The arrest also highlights the role of cross-border police cooperation and Europol alerts in tracking fugitives across the Schengen area.

FAQ: Taulant Toma prison escapes

How many prisons has Taulant Toma escaped from?

Four — three in Italy (Terni, Parma, Opera) and one in Belgium (Lantin).

When was Taulant Toma arrested in Spain?

He was arrested on Sunday 23 August 2026 in the Campclar district of Tarragona, with the arrest announced days later.

Why is Taulant Toma called the 'master escapee'?

Because he successfully broke out of four different European prisons using bedsheets, a human pyramid, and sawed bars.

Where is Taulant Toma now?

He is being held at Mas d'Enric prison in Tarragona, Spain, pending extradition to Italy.

What charges does Taulant Toma face?

He was originally convicted of armed robbery and faces outstanding Italian prison sentences, along with new charges related to forged documents and resisting arrest.