Defense Helicopter Flies Over Altiplano Prison; Prisoners to be Handed Over to the US

Users reported aircraft activity in the northern region of Toluca and surrounding municipalities, especially during the early morning hours.

A National Defense helicopter conducted several flyovers of Federal and Social Rehabilitation Center (Cefereso) 1 “El Altiplano,” in Almoloya de Juárez, in the Toluca Valley, State of Mexico.

The unusual aerial activity surprised residents of the area during the early hours of Tuesday, January 20, who shared their observations on social media, describing the event as “anomalous operations.”

According to preliminary information, the operation was carried out for the mass transfer of inmates to the United States, with the transfers taking place from the prison to the Toluca International Airport (AIT).

Neighbors record helicopter flight over Altiplano prison

Residents of the area captured the aerial maneuvers with their cell phones during the early hours of Tuesday, showing the helicopter flying at a low altitude over San Pablo Autopan, San Andrés Cuexcontitlán, La Florida, and Sauces.

Citizen reports flooded social media with videos documenting the aerial presence in municipalities near the capital of the State of Mexico; many witnesses described these actions as “anomalous” due to the frequency with which the helicopter descended to the site.

This aircraft also visited the maximum-security facility four times during the morning, at 1:00 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7:20 a.m., and 9:10 a.m.

Why did a helicopter fly over Altiplano?

Sources consulted by MILENIO indicate that these maneuvers are linked to extradition processes to other countries, and that the use of air transport by the National Defense ensures that the inmates arrive at their destinations without major incidents.

In addition, the relocation of prisoners is another probable reason for the deployment of these tactical aircraft in the State of Mexico, supposedly to redistribute the prison population of Altiplano to maintain control and order within the facility.

However, another version suggests that it involves the relocation of inmates from various prisons across the country and the extradition of alleged drug traffickers from the United States.

The Flightradar24 platform reported a flight originating from Chihuahua and bound for the Mexico State airport, which could indicate the transfer of a leader from the Los Cabrera cartel, identified as Roberto González Hernández, aka ‘El 04.’

To date, the federal government has not yet issued a report detailing the exact reasons for the transfer or the identities of the inmates involved; it is expected that details of this operation will be confirmed in the coming hours.

Sources: Telediario, Cartel Insider Archives