Saúl Francisco Hernández Tenorio, known as 'El Ponchis', managed to escape from the Hermosillo I Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) in less than a month since his detention in Sonora on March 25. On Monday, May 5, 'El Ponchis' was able to evade prison guards and escape from the jail.
It has not been revealed so far how exactly Hernández Tenorio managed to escape, but authorities are investigating possible complicity and cover-up by the guards. In a public statement on Tuesday, May 6, the escape was confirmed, and it was assured that the actions of all staff responsible for custody during the escape will be reviewed.
Law enforcement forces from the three levels of government are collaborating to carry out search operations at different strategic points in the state with the aim of recapturing 'El Ponchis' and clarifying the events. Before his capture, the Sonora Prosecutor's Office offered a reward of 500,000 pesos for information leading to his detention, given his influence in the region.
'El Ponchis' is identified as the leader of Los Cazadores, a criminal group associated with Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He is also wanted by U.S. authorities for human trafficking, narcotics, and homicides, being one of the top 10 targets of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office.
Meanwhile, Sonoran authorities took more than a day to report the escape of 'El Ponchis' from the Hermosillo Cereso. Víctor Hugo Enríquez García, head of the Public Security Secretariat, confirmed that prison guards discovered 'El Ponchis' absence during the inmate roll call on May 5. The State's Attorney General's Office and the Internal Affairs Unit of the SSP are investigating the case.
