Mexican authorities have put forth information that, they say, shows the recent prison riot in the northeastern city of Apodaca, which left 44 inmates dead, was a cover for a massive jailbreak.
“We can say without a doubt that this was premeditated and planned,” said Rodrigo Medina, the governor of the state of Nuevo Leon where the prison is located.
“This isn’t a thing where, in the middle of a riot, it occurred to these people to escape… There was a plan, which undoubtedly relied on the complicity of some officials,” Media added on Monday.
Thirty members of the Los Zetas, one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels, managed to escape the prison during the riots on Sunday.
Authorities have so far detained 18 guards for involvement in the jailbreak.
“Nine of the 18 guards say they were actively involved in the escape,” said Jorge Domene, Nuevo Leon state security spokesperson, late on Monday.
All the 44 dead inmates were, according to Medina, members of Los Zeta’s rival gang, the Gulf Cartel.
Medina has also released the escapees’ names and pictures, and announced a reward of USD 775,000 for any information that could lead to their capture.
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