Over 140 prisoners walk out of Mexican jail

At least 141 inmates have escaped from a Mexican prison in Tamaulipas state near the US border. The area suffers from serious drug-related violence.

AFP/Raul Llamas

A preliminary investigation revealed that inmates at the Nuevo Laredo prison made their way out through the service entrance and into awaiting vehicles. They were helped by prison staff and a prison warden is now listed as missing.

The massive escape from Nuevo Laredo's Punishment Centre went unnoticed until a routine headcount late on Thursday.

Mexico's Interior Ministry has blamed the latest break out on the Tamaulipas government's lack of effective security and control. But local authorities say they had repeatedly requested help from federal authorities.

This latest escape comes as another blow to a region which lies just across the Rio Grande river which borders the United States.

The area is a prime battleground between the Golfo and Los Zetas drug cartels. They are fighting for lucrative smuggling routes into the United States.

The number of deaths in Mexico's four-year drug war has recently soared above 30,000. This year alone there were 12,456 fatalities.