Mexico Chihuahua Prison: Inmates Dig Tunnel Underneath Jail

MEXICO CITY — Mexican investigators have found a 40-yard (meter) tunnel that inmates chiseled underneath a prison in the northern city of Chihuahua in an apparent effort to escape.

State prosecutors' spokesman Carlos Gonzalez says the 30-inch (76-centimeter) diameter tunnel was lit and almost finished with just 16 feet (4.8 meters) left before reaching the desert outside.

Gonzalez told The Associated Press Friday that up to 250 of the 1,800 inmates housed at the medium-security penitentiary on state charges could have escaped through the underground passageway.

He says it took between two and 2 1/2 years to build the underground passage using chisels and a sledgehammer.

Agents also found an AK-47 rifle inside the tunnel.

Comments

[pinetar]

06:36 AM on 01/14/2012

Supplied by the corrupt guards, no doubt..Mexico is a clear and present danger to America..

[AZreb]

11:01 AM on 01/14/2012

In HP today an article says that 5 of the world's 10 most dangerous cities are in Mexico - right on our doorstep. Our government ignores facts like this - adding to our IN-security.

[Kay Nicks]

08:14 PM on 01/13/2012

C'mon HP...my clean posts are getting tossed.

Tonight there's gonna be a jailbreak
Somewhere in this town
See me and the boys we don't like it
So were getting up and going down..

[missyinSoCal]

02:49 PM on 01/13/2012

Shawshank it isn't.