Mexico rescues 271 minors, women and men from overcrowded rehab centre

Record ID: 103076

  • Title: Mexico rescues 271 minors, women and men from overcrowded rehab centre
  • Date: 18th May 2016
  • Summary: TONALA, JALISCO, MEXICO (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR DRUG REHAB CENTRE / WOMEN LOOKING ON FROM BEHIND POLICE TAPE POLICEMEN GUARDING STREET EXTERIOR REHAB CLINIC PROSECUTORS STANDING OUTSIDE REHAB CENTRE ARRESTED MEN BEING LED OUTSIDE MEN IN CLINIC LOOKING ON POLICEMAN STANDING NEXT TO VEHICLE IN STREET MORE OF MEN BEING LED OUT OF REHABILITATION CLINIC INTERIOR OF ADDICTION REHAB CLINIC / EXTERIOR ROOM BUNK BEDS SEEN IN ROOM, CLOTHES STREWN ACROSS FLOOR PERSON SEEN IN BOTTOM BUNK BED VARIOUS OF KITCHEN VARIOUS OF MEN IN REHAB CENTRE MAN IN REHAB CENTRE, SITTING DOWN MAN'S BACK BEING SHOWN TO CAMERA VARIOUS OF WOMEN RESCUED FROM CENTRE GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE WITH JALISCO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL EDUARDO ALMAGUER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JALISCO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL EDUARDO ALMAGUER, SAYING: "A series, as you saw now, of instruments used to mistreat, to torture people. What took place today, was a rescue of these people after this raid. Our attention is drawn to the case of the minors, children of age eight, a girl of nine. They say the eight-year-old boy was taken to the clinic by his relatives because he had insulted a family member." MEDIA DURING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JALISCO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL EDUARDO ALMAGUER, SAYING: "Two detainees were signaled as culprits. Eleven were presented to review the responsibility they could have had (in the case) and as I just mentioned, 11 of those there, had current arrest warrants and they were hiding in this place." MORE OF WOMEN AND GIRL RESCUED FROM CLINIC AMBULANCE OUTSIDE CLINIC PARAMEDICS TREATING RESCUED PEOPLE WOMAN HUGGING YOUNGSTER OUTSIDE CENTRE PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE CLINIC
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2016 20:30
  • Keywords: Rehab clinic Tonala Jalisco 271 people rescue addicts children
  • Location: TONALA AND GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
  • City: TONALA AND GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014IC5OOZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Mexican prosecutors on Tuesday (May 17) rescued 271 people - including minors, women and men - from a privately run drug rehabilitation clinic in western Mexico who were living in overcrowded and inhumane conditions.
    Authorities freed 112 minors from the rehab clinic located in Tonala, located close to the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco state capital.
    Jalisco's state prosecutors said in a news release that 18 minors showed signs of being mistreated: 13 of them had been beaten and burnt with cigarettes and the others may have suffered from sexual abuse.
    Authorities raided the centre after they were tipped off by a woman who said when she tried to visit a relative at the centre, she was attacked and retained against her will, unless she paid $1,500 pesos ($81.79 dollars).
    Jalisco's Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer, told journalists in Guadalajara that people at the clinic were being tortured.
    "A series, as you saw now, of instruments used to mistreat, to torture people. What took place today, was a rescue of these people after this raid. Our attention is drawn to the case of the minors, children of age eight, a girl of nine. They say the eight-year-old boy was taken to the clinic by his relatives because he had insulted a family member," Almaguer said.
    Around a dozen people were arrested during the raid and are being questioned.
    Eleven men, who had arrest warrants, were using the centre as a hideout to avoid being caught by authorities, Almaguer said.
    "Two detainees were signaled as culprits. Eleven were presented to review the responsibility they could have had (in the case) and as I just mentioned, 11 of those there, had current arrest warrants and they were hiding in this place," AE said.
    Neighbours who may have seen or heard anything are also being questioned by authorities.
    The victims have been fed and are receiving medical and psychological attention, while authorities try to contact their relatives.
    Prosecutors, by orders of the state governor, said they would start inspecting rehab centres across the state, accompanied by local health officials.
    Many of Mexico's rehabilitation clinics, both managed by the state and non-governmental organizations, are poorly run.
    A few years ago, similar clinics, especially those found in northern Mexico, were attacked and targeted by drug gangs after they were accused of protecting dealers from rival gangs.
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