(Image Source: Street Gang Life)

BY: ANTHONY MARTINEZ

ANCHOR: ANTHONY MARTINEZ

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Nearly 60 inmates escaped out of a prison in the northern Mexican town of Nuevo Laredo this past Friday after an arranged riot—Now, with seven prisoners killed and a number of guards fleeing after aiding the breakout, many believe this massive breakout was facilitated by the drug trafficking organization, the “Zetas”.

“Authorities say they will be reinforcing security outside the jail. According to our sources, the government had sent several federal officers to guard the outside of the jail months ago, but at the time of the fight there were no federal officers or soldiers keeping guard.”

With as many as 400 escaping Mexican prisons within the last year alone, the grip of government authority loosens with the ensuing drug wars. BBC has the insider’s look of why maintaining control-is easier said than done.

“The border state of Tamaulipas, where this prison break took place, lies directly on the corridor of the lucrative trafficking routes into the United States. The country’s President, Felipe Calderon, has vowed to clamp down on the problem, but corruption in country’s prison system is rife." 

This was the latest breakout since last December’s 151 inmate prison break. Five months later, the director of the correctional facility was stabbed and killed by another inmate while touring the prison. MySanAntonio reports that with drug war violence and rising homicide rates outside the prison—it’s been very hard to keep the peace anywhere.

Most of the escapees — including 35 of Friday's escapees — had been jailed on federal charges, usually meaning organized crime…Prison security has become a major challenge amid Mexico's crackdown on organized crime, which has crowded state jails nationwide with federal prisoners. Prison riots between gangs and jailbreaks, usually with the participation of wardens and guards, have become common.”

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Transcript by Newsy.