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Inmates Facing US Extradition Escape Mexican Jail in Prison Van

Associated Press

   MEXICO CITY - An important financial operator for the Sinaloa Cartel
   and two other inmates facing extradition to the United States who
   escaped from a Mexico City prison were driven out of the penitentiary
   in a jail transport van, city officials said Thursday.

   The escape is feeding a debate over a judicial system that critics say
   is being manipulated to criminals' advantage. Video of Wednesday's
   escape show it occurred at 5:50 a.m. and yet supervisors were not
   alerted until 8 a.m.

   Officials in Mexico's capital say city jails are not the appropriate
   facilities for high-value prisoners and that judges are allowing
   inmates to manipulate the system to be transferred to or remain in
   lower-security lockups.

   Mexico City Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said that at the
   end of the jail's second shift, when a headcount is supposed to be
   taken at 7:45 a.m., the report was that nothing was amiss. The alarm
   was not raised until the next shift came on at 8 a.m.

   Ulises Lara, spokesman for the capital's prosecutor's office, said the
   preliminary investigation suggested eight jail workers did not follow
   procedures and thus allowed the escape.

   Icela Rodriguez said the jail's director and head of security had been
   dismissed.

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