23 inmates loose, prison guard dead after cartel stages prison break in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta’s regional prison was hit in a coordinated attack Sunday night, leaving one guard dead and 23 inmates missing. Authorities say armed men rammed a vehicle through the front gate and opened fire, triggering chaos inside the facility.

The break-in happened at the Centro Integral de Justicia Regional in Jalisco state. Officials confirmed that by Monday morning, a head count showed 23 men had escaped. A manhunt is now underway.

The assault also set off a riot inside the prison, which complicated efforts to regain control. Reinforcements were requested from outside the area, but road conditions slowed their arrival. By Monday, state officials said order had been restored and the prison was operating under heightened security. An investigation is ongoing.

The prison attack comes amid a surge of violence across Mexico following the military killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” on Sunday. At least 73 people have died in unrest reported in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states, according to authorities.

Among the dead are 25 members of Mexico’s national guard killed in six separate attacks. Security forces have reported blockades, arson, and armed confrontations linked to cartel activity.

Puerto Vallarta, a major Pacific coast tourist destination in Jalisco — the cartel’s stronghold — has seen armed groups moving through streets and setting fires. Tourists were advised to remain indoors as violence spread in the region. In other parts of the state, including Tapalpa, bodies and damaged vehicles were seen following clashes.

In response to the nationwide unrest, approximately 10,000 Mexican soldiers have been deployed across the country.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, founded in 2009, has grown into one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. The US State Department had previously offered up to $15 million for information leading to Oseguera’s arrest.