http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28683062.htm

Assailants kill two prisoners at Mexico border jail
29 Mar 2005 00:58:48 GMT
Source: Reuters

MONTERREY, Mexico, March 28 (Reuters) - Gunmen shot and killed two prisoners at a violent Mexican jail on the U.S. border, authorities said on Monday, the second deadly attack at the prison in a week.

Police said unknown assailants shot the two men late on Sunday at the Cereso Dos jail in Nuevo Laredo, a crime-wracked city infamous for drug trafficking south of Laredo, Texas.

The attack followed the fatal shooting of another prisoner last Tuesday at the jail, which houses scores of prisoners convicted of drugs related offenses.

Police spokesman Virgilio Rafael said authorities believed the shootings were "a settling of scores between rival gangs at the jail," but added they had found no motive.

Nuevo Laredo is a major hub for both legitimate trade and illicit cross-border traffic in drugs including cocaine, marijuana and amphetamines worth millions of dollars.

In recent months scores of people have been killed in a battle between the local Gulf cartel and rival drug gangs from western Sinaloa state for control of the lucrative smuggling route.