HR Commission: Notorious Mexican Criminals Say Prison Conditions Are Inhumane Carrie Kahn - NPR.org
go to original March 25, 2015

Drug lords’ signatures (Nayaritenlinea.com)

Mexico's National Human Rights Commission is dealing with a new case of alleged violations by federal officials. This complaint, however, comes from the country's most vicious and notorious criminals — more than 100 of them.

Nearly 140 prisoners at Mexico's maximum security prison say they're being housed in unsafe and inhumane conditions.

The prison known as "El Altiplano" is located in the state bordering Mexico City. It's said to have walls that are more than 3-feet thick to prevent breakouts or break-ins by trafficking allies who might be trying to free their bosses. The prison has a population of around 1,200 inmates, 250 of whom are considered "high risk" or "dangerous," according to BorderlandBeat.com.

El Altiplano holds an impressive list of Mexico's underworld, many of whom signed the 11-page, handwritten complaint.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who until his capture last year was the world's most wanted drug trafficker, signed it. So did Edgar Valdez Villarreal. Known as "La Barbie," Valdez was born in the U.S. and is notorious for his videotaped torture of victims. And the godfather of Mexican drug trafficking — that's his nickname, El Padrino — Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo signed it, too. Felix Gallardo was convicted more than 20 years ago of the murder of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

Dozens of murderers and kidnappers round out the signatories.

Read the rest at NPR.org

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