An official at a Mexican prison has confirmed that at least 28 people have been killed in violence between rival drug gangs in the prison.
Violence at the Sinaloa prison which led to the death of 28 inmates mostly belonging to drug gangs
Officials stated that the prison which is situated in the Pacific coast city of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, where there are turf wars between rival drug cartels was brought back under control after reinforcement came but an estimated 20 inmates had already been killed, mostly with gun wounds.
The Mexican authorities found two pistols (handguns) and an assault rifle which were used in the assault but the authorities could not establish who it belonged to or how it was brought into the prison.
Several hours later, the prison witnessed another batch of violence where this time nine inmates were stabbed to death.
Currently no information was given regarding the amount of injured but it was reported that three prison guards were injured, one being in serious condition while trying to stop the violence.
No immediate detail were given regarding the inmates identities or gangs they belonged to but several local media sources have stated that several of the killed belonged to the Zetas (Z) gang which are currently in a gang war with the powerful Sinaloa cartel.
Mexican prison authorities have said that in the first attack 17 members were shot dead by the attackers, and three of the gunmen who started the attack were killed. It is not yet known how many of the gang members were involved in the violence.
Josefina Garcia, the Public Safety Secretary who spoke to the Radio Formula confirmed that, three of the wounded were security officials in which one was in serious condition.
Garcia continued, by stating that all the prisoners were killed by other inmates and that none were injured or killed by any prison guards.
Public Safety Department spokeswoman Angeles Moreno later on spoke of the second batch of violence where at least eight inmates were stabbed to death. Moreno also stated that they are investigating what the cause of the violence was.
The Sinaloa state is one of the most violent areas in Mexico with many of the powerful drug gangs operating in the area, but the area belongs largely to drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, who is also one of the most wanted drug traffickers by the United States.
The Sinaloa state is particularly important for drug cartels as the area is used as a “smuggling corridor” and cultivation area for marijuana and opiates.
This latest violence in the Mazatlan prison, one of the worst affected areas by drug gangs in Sinaloa, is the second large drug related attack on the same day as 12 police officers were killed after gang members ambushed the vehicles in the Zitacuaro area in Michoacan state.
According to officials, the police convoy was blocked via cars parked on the road and began shooting at the vehicles from both sides.
According to officials, several gang members were also killed or injured during the attack.
Since President Felipe Calderon crackdown on Mexico’s drug gangs, after being elected into office in December 2006, an estimated 23,000 have died due to drug-related violence.
The report which was given to members of congress in April had said that 22,743 people had lost their lives since December 2006.
2009 was the worst year since the crackdown started with a total of 9,635 deaths related to drug violence was recorded.
The first three months of 2010 saw 3,365 deaths related to drug crime and is on the way for another very bad year regarding drug related violence for Mexico.
I was a young, white american prisoner in this sinaloa prison from 1989 to 1991 with some of the top drug lords. They may have been the most powerful in the world but they were nice to me and did not harm me. They do have a good side that doesn’t get reported.
Public Safety Department spokeswoman Angeles Moreno later on spoke of the second batch of violence where at least eight inmates were stabbed to death. Moreno also stated that they are investigating what the cause of the violence was.
I was a young, white american prisoner in this sinaloa prison from 1989 to 1991 with some of the top drug lords. They may have been the most powerful in the world but they were nice to me and did not harm me. They do have a good side that doesn’t get reported.