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Mexico detains 10 mayors over organized crime

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-27 10:14

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican army and police on Tuesday arrested 10 mayors and 17 officials in a massive crackdown on the organized crime of drug trafficking, the federal attorney general's office said.

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Ten mayors, one judge, 14 top officials and two police officers were detained in the western state of Michoacan for "suspected links to organized crime," a statement said.

Most of the mayors were from towns in a mountainous region, where some worst drug violence done by the powerful La Familia drug cartel occurs.

High-ranking state police officials and two municipal police chiefs were among those detained Tuesday, including state police academy director Mario Bautista and the state governor's adviser, Citlalli Fernandez, who also is the former public safety secretary, the federal attorney general's office said in the statement.

On Monday, the authorities also detained in Michoacan and the State of Mexico 11 alleged members of the La Familia gang, who have been accused of 20 murders and kidnapping.

The Mexican government has arrested many officials and officers suspected of corruption and harboring drug cartels since President Felipe Calderon launched his nationwide crackdown on organized crimes in 2006. More than 10,750 people have died in drug violence since the crackdown started.