Mexican officials are urgently pursuing 23 prisoners who escaped from a coastal prison in Jalisco state after a drug cartel launched an attack to avenge the killing of their leader.
Foreign news agencies reported on 24 Feb 2026 that Mexican police are intensively chasing a group of 23 prisoners who escaped from a prison in Puerto Vallarta during a large-scale attack carried out by the "Jalisco New Generation" (CJNG) gang last Sunday.
Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific coast resort city in Mexico, was one of the locations where the CJNG gang blocked roads and set several vehicles on fire in retaliation for the security forces’ killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” the gang’s leader.
Officials stated that during the chaos, armed men rammed the prison gates with vehicles, enabling 23 prisoners to escape.
The unrest across multiple areas in Mexico, which began following El Mencho’s death on Sunday (22 Feb), has resulted in over 70 deaths, including 25 members of the National Guard.
Juan Pablo Hernandez, Jalisco state security secretary, said his office is coordinating with other states to rapidly capture these cross-border fugitives, without disclosing any details about the identities or names of the escaped prisoners.
Members of the CJNG gang set multiple vehicles on fire throughout Puerto Vallarta last Sunday, prompting tourists and residents to be advised to stay indoors and avoid going outside. Video footage showed thick black smoke rising over the renowned coastal resort city.
Additionally, several airlines temporarily suspended flights, and at least two cruise ships announced they would cancel their scheduled stops in Puerto Vallarta.
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Source:bbc