Penal del Altiplano
Encyclopedia
The Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 "Altiplano" is the maximum security federal prison (originally called the Penal de Máxima Seguridad No. 1 "Almoloya de Juárez", later renamed the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 1 “La Palma” (Centro Federal de Readaptación Social No. 1 "La Palma"), before assuming its present name) of the Secretariat of Public Security in Mexico. This facility is located in the Santa Juana neighborhood of Almoloya de Juárez, in the State of Mexico, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from Toluca
.
The prison was built between 1988 and 1990 under President
Carlos Salinas de Gortari and received its first inmates in November 1991.
Of significant concern to Mexican authorities is the risk that the prison could be attacked from the outside as part of an organized prison break. Therefore, the walls have been reinforced to as much as 1 meter in thickness to discourage ramming. Furthermore, the air space near the facility is restricted. Also, authorities claim that cell phone transmissions are limited within 10 km of the prison to stymie communications between the inmates and their colleagues outside. Armored personnel carriers are also based near the facility to protect it during a potential assault.
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
.
The prison was built between 1988 and 1990 under President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Carlos Salinas de Gortari and received its first inmates in November 1991.
Of significant concern to Mexican authorities is the risk that the prison could be attacked from the outside as part of an organized prison break. Therefore, the walls have been reinforced to as much as 1 meter in thickness to discourage ramming. Furthermore, the air space near the facility is restricted. Also, authorities claim that cell phone transmissions are limited within 10 km of the prison to stymie communications between the inmates and their colleagues outside. Armored personnel carriers are also based near the facility to protect it during a potential assault.
Notable inmates
- Mario Aburto Martínez - accused assassin of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo ColosioLuis Donaldo ColosioLuis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta was a Mexican politician, and PRI presidential candidate, who was assassinated at a campaign rally in Tijuana during the Mexican Presidential campaign of 1994.-Political history:...
. - Daniel Arizmendi (known as "El Mochaorejas") - leader of a kidnapping gang
- Eduardo Arellano FélixEduardo Arellano FélixEduardo Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug trafficker, brother of Benjamín, Ramón, Javier and sister Enedina, all drug traffickers. The Arellano-Félix Organisation, also known as the Tijuana Cartel, has been responsible for countless murders and the smuggling of thousands of tons of marijuana,...
(known as "El Doctor") - former leader of the Tijuana Cartel - Francisco Rafael Arellano FélixFrancisco Rafael Arellano FélixFrancisco Rafael Arellano Félix is a Mexican drug lord involved in the Tijuana Cartel. The oldest of a gang of seven brothers who allegedly ran the Tijuana-based drug cartel, he coordinated the buying, selling, and movements of narcotics on behalf of the organization.He was arrested on August 7,...
- former leader of the Tijuana Cartel - Mario VillanuevaMario VillanuevaMario Ernesto Villanueva Madrid, aka "El Chueco", is a Mexican politician who built an important political career within the ranks of Partido Revolucionario Institucional...
- Former Governor of Quintana RooGovernor of Quintana RooGovernors of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo since statehood in 1975:Governors of the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo* Jesús Martínez Ross , 5 April 1975 – 4 April 1981* Pedro Joaquín Coldwell , 5 April 1981 – 4 April 1987... - Jesus Zambada García (known as "El Rey") - co-leader of the Sinaloa CartelSinaloa CartelThe Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the United States Intelligence Community as "the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world." The Sinaloa Cartel is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, but also operates in the Mexican states of Baja...
- Iván Guzmán Salazar (known as "El Chapito") - son of Joaquín GuzmánJoaquín GuzmánJoaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera nicknamed "El Chapo" for his stature, is a Mexican drug lord who heads Mexico's and the world's largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization referred to as the Sinaloa Cartel, named after the Mexican Pacific coast state of Sinaloa where it was initially...
(co-leader of the Sinaloa CartelSinaloa CartelThe Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the United States Intelligence Community as "the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world." The Sinaloa Cartel is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, but also operates in the Mexican states of Baja...
) - Osiel CárdenasOsiel CárdenasOsiel Cárdenas Guillén was a Mexican drug lord and former leader of the Gulf Cartel . Originally a mechanic in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, where he was born, he entered the Gulf Cartel by helping Juan García Abrego, the capo at the time; when García was arrested in 1995, some infighting erupted within...
- presumed leader of the Gulf Cartel (Cartel del Golfo)Gulf CartelThe Gulf Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico, and perhaps the oldest organized crime group in the country... - Various alleged members of Los ZetasLos ZetasLos Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
, Jaime González DuránJaime González DuránJaime González Durán is a Mexican drug trafficker who is one of the 31 original founding members, and he ranked third in the chain of command of the criminal organization known as Los Zetas. A former Mexican Army elite soldier of the Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales , he was trained in...
(known as "El Hummer"), El Debora and El Barbas - Vicente Zambada Niebla (Vicentillo) - son of Ismael Zambada (co-leader of the Sinaloa CartelSinaloa CartelThe Sinaloa Cartel is the most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the United States Intelligence Community as "the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world." The Sinaloa Cartel is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, but also operates in the Mexican states of Baja...
) - Teodoro García SimentalTeodoro García SimentalTeodoro García Simental is a former lieutenant of the Mexican criminal organization known as the Tijuana Cartel.- Biography :...
who broke off the Cartel Arellano Felix - Various alleged ZapatistasZapatista Army of National LiberationThe Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a revolutionary leftist group based in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico....
- Marco Antonio Garcia Simental (known as "El Cris" & "El 8-9") - Lieutenant in the Arellano-Felix Organization, older brother of Teodoro Garcia Simental "El Teo".
- Miguel Ángel Félix GallardoMiguel Ángel Félix GallardoMiguel Ángel Félix Gallardo is a convicted Mexican drug lord known as "El Padrino" who in the 1980s formed the Guadalajara Cartel and became the first drug czar in Mexico to control all illegal drug traffic in Mexico and the corridors along the Mexico-U.S.A...
(known as "El Padrino" (("The Godfather")) - Mexican drug lord
External links
- "CENTROS FEDERALES DE READAPTACIÓN SOCIAL." (Archive) Secretariat of Public Security.
- "Centro Federal de Readaptación Social N°1 "Altiplano"" COFEMER.