Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ryan in Maine on May 18, 2009, 01:39:11 AM

Title: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: Ryan in Maine on May 18, 2009, 01:39:11 AM: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090517/ts_nm/us_mexico_drugs

Quote
ZACATECAS, Mexico (Reuters) – Suspected members of a Mexican drug cartel disguised as federal police swept into a prison in the northern state of Zacatecas on Saturday and freed 53 inmates, police and army officials said.

The early-morning jailbreak, which took less than five minutes and involved no violence, was carried out by 20 heavily armed men who arrived in 10 vehicles and a helicopter, they said.

All of the escaped prisoners are believed to be members of the armed wing of Mexico's Gulf Cartel, one of the country's most powerful criminal organizations.

The men were allowed into the state prison after saying they were there for a prisoner transfer, officials said.

Some 40 guards and administrators who were on duty at the time are in custody, Zacatecas Governor Amalia Garcia told a news conference.

"There is evidence that the guards and prison authorities were accomplices," he said.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has staked his presidency on crushing drug gangs that killed 6,300 people last year across the nation. The United States is increasingly alarmed by the violence, fearing it could spill across the border.

Zacatecas has so far seen little of the drug-related violence that has rocked other northern states.

Garcia said state and federal police along with the army were searching for the prisoners. Earlier reports had said 59 inmates escaped.

(Editing by Xavier Briand)

A freaking helicopter? Reminds me of Prison Break.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: makattak on May 18, 2009, 01:42:38 AM: Yep.

The drug cartels have access to helicopters, prison transport vehicles, fully automatic weapons, grenade launchers, and police gear.

Obviously they're getting them from United States citizens through gun shows and straw purchases.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: crt360 on May 18, 2009, 02:41:01 AM: Quote from: makattak on May 18, 2009, 01:42:38 AM

Obviously they're getting them from United States citizens through gun shows and straw purchases.

No doubt. It's clearly due to the lack of strong U.S. anti-helicopter laws.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: Scout26 on May 18, 2009, 06:14:18 AM: Yes, we must close the helicopter show loophole.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas on May 18, 2009, 08:06:01 AM: Happened in France often enough that some prisons there have a net over the prison to keep 'em from landing, IIRC.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: DJJ on May 18, 2009, 08:22:52 AM: This happened in New Mexico a few years back. The girlfriend of an inmate chartered a helicopter, then held the pilot at gunpoint and forced him to land in the prison yard. The pilot was later acquitted (rightly so).
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: Jim147 on May 18, 2009, 04:22:02 PM: I feel left out. None of the gunshows around here have helicopters.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: Viking on May 18, 2009, 05:36:13 PM: Quote from: Fistful Savalas on May 18, 2009, 08:06:01 AM
Happened in France often enough that some prisons there have a net over the prison to keep 'em from landing, IIRC.
Happened twice in Greece as well. Same guy who got busted out both times.
Title: Re: Jailbreak! Mexican drug cartels have helicopters?
Post by: 41magsnub on May 18, 2009, 06:08:08 PM: Amateurs.. Lex Luthor used a balloon.