El Chapo And La Barbie Mastermind Hunger Strike At Mexican Maximum Security Prison

Altiplano prison warden and guards accused of violating inmates rights and two cartel leaders behind bars stage hunger strike to expose conditions.

By H. Nelson Goodson

July 21, 2014

Almolaya de Juárez, Mexico, Mexico - Last Wednesday, a hunger strike was initiated at the Altiplano maximum security prison by both Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzman Loera and Édgar Valdez Villarreal, aka, "La Barbe," drug cartel leaders. Guzman is in isolation and managed to organize a hunger strike with Villarreal,  the Processo news magazine reported.

The hunger is ongoing until further notice. At least 1,000 inmates have joined the hunger strike. They claim, that the Altiplano Prison Warden Valentin Cárdenas Lerma has failed to provide adequate medical care, lack of medication, using underwear is prohibited, can't wash prison clothing regularly, won't allow regular family and conjugal visits, lack of access to prison store and food poisoning incidents. Recently, 20 inmates at Altiplano prison were food poisoned after being fed spoiled chicken. 

Guzman is the druglord for the Cartel de Sinaloa and Villarreal headed his criminal organization after breaking away from the Sinaloa Cartel and working for the Beltran-Leyva crime family.

Mexican federal prison authorities are looking into how both Guzman and Villarreal,  including the rest of the inmates managed to organize the hunger strike, since Guzman is in isolation for his protection.