Project in the capital’s women’s prison plans to produce a thousand units for donation
Coveted for mega hair in beauty salons, human hair has been the target of smuggling and theft in Mato Grosso do Sul. Last week, for example, an establishment in the Capital suffered a loss of R$55,000 after having 2.5 kilos on wires taken by a thief.
As for the material that is seized as contraband in the Capital and is stored in the Federal Revenue warehouse, the work of inmates at the Irmã Zorzi women’s prison in Campo Grande is ensuring a good purpose.
They are sewing wigs for patients fighting cancer in Mato Grosso do Sul, and losing their natural hair as a result of the treatment.
Agepen (State Penitentiary System Administration Agency), which coordinates the work, plans to produce a thousand wigs. The director of the prison, Mari Jane Boleti Carrilho, explains that inmates who do work like this within the prisons are entitled to the remission of one day of sentence for every three days of service provided.
Mari Jane highlights another benefit. “We believe that it is a very positive and mutually beneficial action, as it directly contributes to society and, at the same time, offers productive employment and helps to professionally train our custodians, in addition to instilling new psychological and human values”, she states.
An inmate who had her identity preserved and is one of those involved in the action, talks about what it’s like to make wigs, after having beaten cancer herself. “When I went bald, I went into depression, I didn’t feel like doing anything. Now, with my work, I can help those who are going through what I went through and that is very rewarding,” she says.
In addition to hair, screens and lines are needed for production. which are funded by the prison unit itself through the sale of products produced in the prison’s craft sector.
800% increase – Federal Revenue Regional Delegate, Zumilson Custódio da Silva confirms that there has been a significant increase in the seizure of hair in recent years: more than 800% between 2022 (200 kilos) and 2023 (1,900 kilos).
Mato Grosso do Sul serves as a route for smuggled hair from Asia, destined for large centers in Brazil, such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, explains Silva. “We have a large dry border with Paraguay and Bolivia, it is a product that is easy to transport, with high added value and is increasingly in demand in the beauty market”, he concludes.
Receive the main news from the State via WhatsApp. Click here to access the channel Campo Grande News and follow our social media.
