- Title: MEXICO: Ten police officers killed in ambush in Sinaloa state
- Date: 17th July 2011
- Summary: BODIES OF THREE POLICE OFFICERS BY PICK-UP TRUCK BODIES OF TWO POLICE LYING AT THE BACK OF VAN VARIOUS OF FORENSICS TEAM PUTTING BODY IN THE BACK OF VAN WHILE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKES PHOTOS FOUR BODIES LYING BY ROAD BODY OF POLICEMAN KILLED LYING ON ROAD CIVILIAN KILLED AT AMBUSH LYING ON ROAD WITH SHEET OVER BODY AND RELATIVES SITTING NEARBY
- Embargoed: 1st August 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico, Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Reuters ID: LVA3RVUUKFPRJJURC62YP9EY2PXT
- Story Text: A convoy of gunmen ambushed police at a fake highway checkpoint in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa on Friday evening (July 15), killing ten officers and one civilian in the latest strike against security forces in the country.
The gunmen attacked the police in Sinaloa, a marijuana-producing state and the home of Mexico's most powerful drug gang. The attack took place near the near the town of Guasave as a police convoy was traveling from the quaint coastal town of Los Mochis.
A civilian caught in the crossfire as he drove from work was also killed.
Although direct links between the unidentified gunmen and drug cartels operating in the state have not been established, the latest ambush bears all the hallmarks of previous police attacks in the state by drug traffickers.
The daring nature of the attack underscores the challenges for the Mexican police as the government tries to provide officers with the weaponry and training needed to take on powerful and brazen gangs linked to drug cartels whose arsenals include assault rifles and rocket launchers.
Over 2,000 police officers have been killed since President Felipe Calderon took office, according to the government.
More than 40,000 people have died in drug-related violence since December 2006, when Calderon sent troops to help police fight drug cartels.
The Sinaloa gang, which is believed to be run by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin Guzman, uses the state as its base of operations to grow marijuana and poppies for heroin, cook methamphetamine in large labs and smuggle South American cocaine to the United States. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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