The son of one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords has escaped from prison with four other drug suspects.

Mexican authorities say Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon escaped from Culiacan prison in Sinaloa in the country's north west on Thursday.

Esparragoza Monzon is the son of Juan Jose Esparragoza, alias 'El Azul', one of the three top leaders of the powerful Sinaloa cartel.

Mexican authorities say Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon escaped from Culiacan prison in Sinaloa in the country's north west on Thursday

Police swarmed the Culiacan prison on Thursday after Juan Jose Esparragoza Monzon and four other drug suspects escaped during a visiting day

He led the gang with Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman and Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada. El Chapo was extradited to the U.S. earlier this year.

Esparragoza Monzon is the son of Juan Jose Esparragoza (above), alias 'El Azul', one of the three top leaders of the powerful Sinaloa cartel

The whereabouts of Zambada and Esparragoza, who kept the lowest profile, are unknown.

In 2014 rumors circulated that Esparragoza, the father, had died. The reports have not been confirmed by authorities.

His son, Esparragoza Monzon, was arrested in January and is suspected of running a drug distribution network and managing cartel finances.

Cristobal Castaneda, the assistant secretary of public safety in northern Sinaloa state, said late Thursday the inmates fled the state prison during a visiting day.

Castaneda said state authorities had wanted to transfer all five to federal prisons, but that the suspects had won court injunctions against transfers.

The other four escaped prisoners appeared to be Sinaloa cartel associates.