Twenty-three convicted inmates are on the loose in Mexico after armed attackers stormed a prison in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, leaving one guard dead and triggering a riot inside the facility, as reported by The New York Post.

Mexican officials confirmed that the assault occurred on Sunday at the Centro Integral de Justicia Regional. According to authorities, gunmen opened fire on the prison before crashing a vehicle through the main gate to force entry.

The break-in sparked chaos inside the facility, where a riot erupted as security forces attempted to respond to the breach.

23 inmates escape Puerto Vallarta prison in Mexico after gate rammed following cartel unrest https://t.co/e1RBUEAb6S

— Dimsumdaily Hong Kong (@dimsumdaily_hk) February 24, 2026

Vallarta Daily reported that one guard was killed during the violence. Reinforcements were called in from outside the region, but road conditions slowed their arrival.

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By Monday, state officials conducted a head count and determined that 23 men had escaped during the attack. Authorities have launched a manhunt for the fugitives.

Officials said order had been restored at the prison and that it was operating again under reinforced security while the investigation continues.

The prison break unfolded against the backdrop of widespread violence across Mexico following the death of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho.”

The powerful leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel was killed in a military operation Sunday, setting off violent retaliation in multiple states.

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At least 73 people have died in unrest reported in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states since the military action that took out El Mencho. Among the dead are 25 members of the Mexican National Guard, who were killed in six separate attacks.

Puerto Vallarta, a Pacific beach destination in the state of Jalisco and considered a stronghold of the cartel, has been particularly tense.

Tourists in the city were warned to remain indoors as armed groups moved through the streets. Reports indicated that narco gangs set fires and marched with weapons during the unrest.

In response to the escalating violence, Mexican authorities have deployed approximately 10,000 soldiers throughout the country.

The U.S. State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of El Mencho.

The Jalisco New Generation cartel, which began operating in 2009, has grown into one of the most powerful and fastest-expanding criminal organizations in Mexico.

Officials continue to investigate the prison attack and are working to locate the escaped inmates as security forces attempt to stabilize areas impacted by cartel-related violence.

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