LatinNews Daily Report - 21 February 2012

Mexico | Prison break. At least 30 members of Los Zetas, a drug trafficking organisation, escaped from the Apodaca prison in Nuevo León during the riot on 19 February. Nine guards have confessed that they knew a prison breakout was planned and that a riot would be used to distract them. Four senior prison officers, including the prison governor, deputy governor, head of security and an official responsible for the management of prisons in the state government have also been suspended and are being questioned about the management of the prison. According to the families of prisoners, Los Zetas have controlled and run the prison for most of the past year. At least 44 prisoners were killed in the riot which turned into a pitched battle between Los Zetas and rivals gangsters from the Cartel del Golfo inside the prison. Several eyewitnesses say that they saw armed men attack the prison just before the riot started.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 155 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial