16 police officers detained in mass graves case in northern Mexico

[News_Editor]

16 police officers detained in mass graves case in northern Mexico

2011-04-15 00:21:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Mexico's Attorney General Marisela Morales on Thursday announced that 16 police officers were detained on Wednesday for their involvement with the mass graves where 126 bodies were found in northern Mexico.

The 16 law agents are members of the San Fernando police department. The police officers are accused of cooperating and protecting Zetas members. In addition, they covered up the perpetrators of the mass murders.

Morales added that the individuals are suspected of having ties with the "Los Zetas" criminal organization and announced a reward of up to 15 million Mexican pesos ($1.28 million) for any information that leads to the arrest of four Zetas leaders.

Salvador Alfonso Martínez Escobedo, aka "La Ardilla," Omar Martín Estrada Luna, aka "El kilo," Román Ricardo Palomo Rincones or "El Coyote, and Saraí Fabiola Díaz Arroyo, also known as "Muñeca," are alleged leaders of the Zetas drug cartel and suspected of directing the mass murders.

On Wednesday, Mexican authorities announced that 126 bodies have been unearthed in mass graves in San Fernando, Tamaulipas state, which borders Brownsville, Texas. It is believed that they were people who refused to enlist within the ranks of Los Zetas drug cartel.

Approximately 72 bodies were sent to Mexico City in order to continue the identification process. Forensic investigators have not determined if the bodies are from missing passengers or immigrants.

In August 2010, members of Los Zetas cartel killed 72 Central and South American migrants in the same municipality. The victims were individuals who refused to enlist within the Zetas ranks.

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