Talk about living life large! Vast luxuries including saunas, a bar, food stands and appliances were discovered by authorities after entering a prison in northern Mexico to investigate a riot that left 49 inmates dead.
Nuevo Leon state authorities said in a statement, that cells inside Monterrey’s Topo Chico prison were outfitted with mini fridges, air conditioners, digital cable and even aquariums. There were about 280 grocery stands where inmates could buy goods.
The riot broke out Thursday between two rival factions of the Zetas drug cartel. Heavy equipment was brought in to remove tons of contrabands that authorities had piled in the prison yard, the statement said.
It also added that hundreds of altars to the Death Saint, some being life-size, were destroyed by the police. The folk figure is revered by drug traffickers and downtrodden some people.
In a statement Gen. Cuauhtemoc Antunez, the state’s security secretary, said: “We knew about all of the irregularities that existed, arbitrary acts, abuses, taxes.” However, authorities did not say how long the abuses had occurred or who allowed them.
Governor of Nuevo Leon, Jaime Rodriguez, said that 60 hammers, 86 knives and 120 shivs were used in the riot.
The prison’s director, superintendent and a guard have been arrested on murder charges.
