...

Mexican army arrests Cancun police chief after murder of general

Other News Materials 10 February 2009 00:46 (UTC +04:00)

The police chief in the Mexican resort city of Cancun was removed from his position on Monday and taken to Mexico City for questioning, following the murder of a general who had been designated to combat the drug trade in the area, dpa reported.

Cancun Mayor Gregorio Sanchez said the city's top official for public safety and traffic, Francisco Velasco Delgado, was taken to an office in the capital that specializes in organized crime issues.

According to media reports, the authorities were investigating whether police officers were involved in the murder of retired general Mauro Enrique Tello Quinones, who had just become a city government advisor to combat organized crime.

No charges had been filed against Velasco Delgado, but his arrest happened just a few hours after the army took over the Cancun police facilities to review arms and personnel.

Some 400 army officers, using six vehicles and two small tanks, circled the police headquarters in the early hours of Monday.

Tello Quinones was found dead on February 3, with signs of brutal torture, alongside a lieutenant colonel and a nephew of the mayor.

Latest

Latest