On Monday, state authorities in Jalisco reported an armed attack on the Ixtapa prison in Puerto Vallarta, which facilitated the escape of 23 inmates and left one guard dead. The escape occurred on Sunday amid a wave of violence unleashed following a military operation against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which culminated in the death of its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho. Jalisco's Secretary of Security, Juan Pablo Hernández, informed at a press conference that the attack was carried out from outside the prison and resulted in a massive escape, prompting alerts and operations in other states to recapture the fugitives. "The information we have, from the headcount, is that 23 PPL (persons deprived of liberty) are on the run, and the corresponding alerts are already being issued to the different federal entities for their capture," detailed Hernández. According to the official, the armed group fired on the installations and knocked down a gate with a vehicle, which opened access and allowed the inmates to escape, in addition to causing the death of a guard. The escape occurred amidst blockades and attacks in different areas of Jalisco and other states, which federal authorities attribute to a reaction from organized crime following the operation against Oseguera. In its report, the federal government reported casualties and clashes in the region, while state authorities stated they were maintaining deployments to regain control and apprehend those responsible. To date, the list of identities of the 23 fugitives has not been officially released in the reports consulted. Authorities reiterated that the priority is their location and capture, as well as reinforcing prison security after the attack.
