By ALEXANDRA OLSON, The Associated Press
May 16, 2009
MEXICO CITY — An armed gang freed more than 50 inmates from a prison in central Mexico on Saturday – including two dozen with ties to a powerful drug
cartel – in a daring raid that took just five minutes, a state governor said.
The prison director, 40 guards and two police commanders who were on duty at the Cieneguillas prison in Zacatecas state were detained for questioning,
according to Gov. Amalia Garcia Medina. She said footage from the security cameras inside and outside the prison indicates that guards helped the
armed gang, although she did not provide details.
"It's clear to us that it was a perfectly planned operation with inside help because it lasted just five minutes and not one shot was fired," Garcia
said at a news conference.
About 20 gunmen arrived at the prison before dawn in 10 vehicles and freed 53 prisoners, including at least 27 with ties to the Gulf cartel, she said.
She said the jailbreak may have been revenge for the recent arrests of drug gang members and the seizure of guns and narcotics by the Zacatecas state
police.
"This will not go unpunished," she said. "The investigations will be conducted with the full weight of the law to their last consequences."
She said the army and federal police were on a manhunt for the fugitives.
Corruption among police and other government officials has been a key obstacle in Mexico's U.S.-backed efforts to root out ruthless drug cartels.
President Felipe Calderon has acknowledged that corruption permeates all levels of Mexican police. He has sent more than 45,000 soldiers to combat
drug gangs, although the army has also been accused of abuses in the offensive.
Drug violence has become increasingly brutal as rival gangs fight each other for territory and stage bold attacks against police.
The bodies of two men were found shot to death in central Michoacan state early Saturday, police said.
One of the men was thrown out of a car in front of a pizzeria at a plaza in the city of Patzcuaro. He had been blindfolded, shot in the head and had
his hands tied. A sign had been taped to his back reading "Rufos, we are the resistance against you and the Z," an apparent reference to the Zetas, a
group of Gulf cartel hit men.
Drug violence has killed more than 10,750 in the last 2 1/2 years.
Mexico has arrested at least 327 cartel members since Calderon took office, but the highest-ranking leaders remain at large.
[Edited on 5-17-2009 by BajaNews]Woooosh - 5-17-2009 at 01:57 PM
Only yesterday's news, shows no point in jailing narcos in Baja either until corruption is eradicated frmthe jail system. Fastest revolving jail door
outside of Africa. Maybe they wait until the inmate count hits fifty narcos from one gang and then break them all out to save time and get back to
business. Nomads with that many stars can post anywhere they want. Bajajack - 5-17-2009 at 03:23 PM
Just doing my job, Stirring the Pot, we can't all be Holy.DENNIS - 5-17-2009 at 03:26 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajajack
Just doing my job, Stirring the Pot, we can't all be Holy.
And, at that, you are an expert.
Don't let them be mean to you, Jack. Be strong.
OOPS again. I keep forgeting the laughy face.
[Edited on 5-17-2009 by DENNIS]
Yeah, right
Dave - 5-17-2009 at 06:50 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
None the less, he isn't alll that bad. Obnoxious but....not all that bad.
Now, Jack.....Did you say all that?Bajajack - 5-17-2009 at 07:01 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
OOOOOPS.........
Now, Jack.....Did you say all that?
I just can't help myself Dennis, these Suckers are just tooooo
easy.Woooosh - 5-18-2009 at 07:28 AM
"On Saturday, the governor of Zacatecas, another central state, said prison guards were probably complicit in the escape of 53 inmates, including at
least 27 with links to the Gulf cartel. About 20 gunmen freed the prisoners in a raid that lasted just five minutes."
