At least 23 inmates escaped a prison in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as gangs opened fire and rammed the facility’s gates, local authorities have said. The Secretary of Public Security of Jalisco, Juan Pablo Hernández, said the inmates escaped the regional prison during Sunday’s blockades following the death of major cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’.
He said: « Currently, the information available from the roll call indicates that 23 inmates have escaped. The corresponding alerts are being issued to federal authorities for their capture. This incident occurred when, unfortunately, criminal groups opened fire on the facility and used a vehicle to ram down a gate. »
It’s thought ‘highly dangerous’ inmates escaped from the reintegration centre at the Ixtapa prison after it was stormed by an armed group, according to Mexican news agency N+.
An armoured vehicle reportedly rammed through a gate of the prison, while a guard was killed in the shootout which followed after.
Mexico deployed thousands of troops as it braced for another wave of violence following the death of El Mencho.
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At least 20 states have experienced unrest since since the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed by Mexican special forces on Sunday.
Mexico’s defence secretary Ricardo Trevilla said the operation, which included US intelligence, ended when special forces found Oseguera Cervantes “hidden in the undergrowth” in his home state of Jalisco.
After several shootouts, eight gunmen were killed and the drug lord and two of his bodyguards were wounded.
They were taken into custody and died on the way to Mexico City, Mr Trevilla said.
Mr Trevilla said authorities had followed one of El Mencho’s romantic partners to his hideout in Tapalpa.
In all, more than 70 people were killed in the operation and the ensuing violence, including security forces, suspected cartel members and others.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel is one of the fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, known for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the US and staging brazen attacks against Mexican government officials.
The organisation responded to El Mencho’s death with widespread violence, including blocking roads and setting fire to vehicles.
Both Mexico and the US had spent years tracking ‘El Mencho’ who faced numerous outstanding arrest warrants for organised crime and drug trafficking in both countries.
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