27 July, 2010
Mexican authorities are shocked with allegations that a prison chief was responsible for letting out inmates and arming them to carry out the July 18 Birthday Massacre where 17 teenagers and young adults were killed.
At first Mexican authorities had thought that the attack was by rival drug gangs but now the situation has turned on its head after it has been alleged that the men who took part in the attack were all prison inmates who were sentenced for drug crimes.
Mexican authorities have said that the guard’s official vehicles, fire weapons and ammunition were given to the inmates to carry out an assignment for the prison chief.
The inmates were then said to have returned back to their cells after the attack.
All prison guards alleged to be involved in the scandal and the prison chief were all placed on house arrest.
On Sunday, a spokesman from the attorney general’s office, Ricardo Najera told reporters “According to witnesses, the inmates were allowed to leave with authorization of the prison director to carry out instructions for revenge attacks using official vehicles and using guards’ weapons for executions.”
It has been suspected that the prison guard may have been on the paying scale of a drug gang but this has not been confirmed as yet.
This last scandal has highlighted the corruption level in Mexico and the level in which drug gangs have infiltrated in Mexico.
25,000 people have died in the last 3.3 years after Mexican President, Felipe Calderón, started the war on drugs when he came to office in late 2006.
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