( dpa ) - The Mexican Army on Tuesday took over control of the local police forces in the cities of Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa and Matamoros, on the border with the United States in the northern state of Tamaulipas, the authorities said.
The military called in all police officers in those cities to check their weapons. Joint patrols of military officers and state and federal police were said to be on patrol in these areas.
The three cities have recently witnessed strong clashes between the authorities and organized crime.
The military has not disclosed the expected duration of the intervention. Similar operations have been carried out in the past in other states where organized crime is particularly active to seek among other issues to clean up local police forces. dpa ke vs aw