A Brazilian gang leader has tried to escape from prison by dressing up as his daughter on a jail visit, and walking out of the penitentiary’s main door in her place.

But prison officials said the nervousness displayed by Clauvino da Silva, also known as “Shorty”, as he tried to leave the Rio de Janeiro prison dressed as a woman gave him away.

His plan was apparently to leave his 19-year-old daughter inside the jail.

Police are looking into her possible role as an accomplice in Saturday’s failed escape attempt from Gericino prison.

Authorities say da Silva’s nerves gave him away. Photo: AAP

Rio’s state secretary of prison administration released photos showing da Silva in a silicon mask of a girl’s face and long dark-haired wig, wearing tight jeans and a pink shirt with a cartoon image of doughnuts.

They also released a video in which da Silva can be seen removing the mask and some of the clothes, and saying his full name.

Authorities say da Silva was part of the leadership of the Red Command, one of the most powerful criminal groups in Brazil that controlled drug trafficking in a large part of Rio.

After the failed escape bid, da Silva was transferred to a unit of a maximum-security prison and will face disciplinary sanctions, officials said.