MEXICO: Mexico is searching for three federal police officers in connection with Monday's shooting at the city's airport in which three other officers were killed.

Record ID: 305520

  • Title: MEXICO: Mexico is searching for three federal police officers in connection with Monday's shooting at the city's airport in which three other officers were killed.
  • Date: 29th June 2012
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JUNE 28, 2012) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) LUIS CARDENAS PALOMINO, HEAD OF REGIONAL SECURITY OF THE FEDERAL POLICE, WALKING ONTO STAGE AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE PICTURES OF THE THREE FEDERAL POLICE OFFICERS NOW WANTED BY AUTHORITIES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUIS CARDENAS PALOMINO, HEAD OF REGIONAL
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA9RK5KSWGG761DIWZ9XWDVNS8M
  • Story Text: Mexican authorities on Thursday (June 28) announced that they are searching for three federal police officers wanted in connection with a shootout at Mexico City's airport on Monday, causing panicked travellers to scramble for cover in the busy facility.
    Mexican Federal Police Regional Security Head Luis Cardenas said they are undertaking a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
    "We know there must be other authorities involved in this (drug) trafficking, and that's what the federal police are investigating at the moment-- not only members of the federal police, but among all members of the authorities that converge at the airport, as well as any other type of authorities at the airport in Mexico City," he said.
    Palomino told reporters that the shooting took place during an operation to arrest law enforcement officers involved in drug trafficking through the airport.
    "From previous seizures, we were led to have suspicions that there was some authority figure involved. That's why this operation was mounted, to arrest whoever it was, whether it was federal police officer, or whomever," he added.
    The shootout occurred when three federal officers approached two suspects in the airport's Terminal 2, which handles international and domestic flights. Two agents were killed at the terminal and another later died of his injuries in hospital.
    The suspects, who remain at large, are believed to be part of a larger group of officials involved in a cocaine ring, Mexico's security ministry said in a statement.
    Mexico City has seen relatively low murder rates compared to the rest of the country, where drug violence has killed around 55,000 people in the past five and half years.
    But attacks have been creeping up in the capital and its surrounding neighbourhoods, with more than 300 gangland killings recorded last year.
    Mexico's airports and ports are busy areas for drug smugglers. So far this year, federal police have seized more than 440 pounds (200 kilograms) of cocaine at the capital's airport, double the amount taken there last year.
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