Itagüí Prison Security Heightened Amid Alleged Mass Escape Plot

Security at the Itagüí maximum and medium-security prison is under intense scrutiny following a report of a potential mass escape plan. The alleged plot, reportedly timed for August 7, the inauguration day of President-elect Abelardo Gabriel de la Espriella Otero, was brought to light by a confidential source.

Medellín City Council president Alejandro De Bedout received a call detailing the supposed plan, which involved individuals on motorcycles ready to facilitate the escape. De Bedout presented a fragment of this call as evidence in a complaint filed with the Attorney General's Office. The source indicated that the escape was being organized by individuals who manage motorcycles and others who would be on standby to aid the breakout.

This denunciation has prompted a coordinated response from various authorities, including the Antioquia Prosecutor's Office, the Metropolitan Police of Valle de Aburrá, and the National Penitentiary and Prison Institute (Inpec). The Inpec announced immediate measures to bolster security within the prison, which houses prominent leaders of organized crime groups in the Valle de Aburrá.

These measures include the transfer of Inpec officials to reinforce security, the presence of the Director General of the entity at the prison, the implementation of enhanced perimeters, and increased coordination with the Metropolitan Police. Despite these actions, 'alias Douglas,' a key leader of 'La Terraza,' who is incarcerated at 'La Paz' (the Itagüí prison), has reportedly dismissed the escape plan as mere fantasy.