BBC Homepage World Service Education
BBC Homepagelow graphics version | feedback | help
BBC News Online
 You are in: World: Americas
Front Page 
World 
Africa 
Americas 
Asia-Pacific 
Europe 
Middle East 
South Asia 
-------------
From Our Own Correspondent 
-------------
Letter From America 
UK 
UK Politics 
Business 
Sci/Tech 
Health 
Education 
Entertainment 
Talking Point 
In Depth 
AudioVideo 

Wednesday, 30 May, 2001, 13:48 GMT 14:48 UK
Mexican ex-police officer murdered
Mexican street vendors throw rocks during clashes with police in the Tepito neighbourhood of Mexico City
Mexico City has rampant crime levels
By BBC Mexico correspondent Peter Greste

A former senior police official in Mexico City has been murdered, along with his two brothers, in what the authorities said was a gangland-style execution.

The former officer, Jesus Carrola, was found in a parked car in a side street in the Mexican capital. There was evidence that he had suffered torture.

Vicente Fox
Fox has promised to crack down on crime
He served briefly in 1997 as the head of the city's judicial police force before resigning amid reports that he had been involved in criminal activity.

There are few details available about what happened to Carrola and his brothers, Miguel Angel and Marcos, but what the police do know is that they were abducted by armed men in federal police uniforms on Monday.

A day later, they were found bound, gagged and shot in the back of a stolen van that had been parked in a side street of Mexico City.

There are no suspects, but police said the bodies bear all the hallmarks of an execution by an organised crime gang.

Alleged smuggling links

Media reports have alleged that Carrola was linked to the Tijuana cocaine smuggling cartel and that he had been involved in an extortion ring while he served as a federal agent in northern Mexico.

The former officer is not thought to have had links to the current government, which came to power in elections a year ago.

But the killing will underline the urgent need to clamp down on organised crime.

The new president, Vicente Fox, has made crime, corruption and impunity a priority.

But so far, there has been little progress.

Search BBC News Online

Advanced search options
Launch console
BBC RADIO NEWS
BBC ONE TV NEWS
WORLD NEWS SUMMARY
PROGRAMMES GUIDE
See also:

06 Apr 99 | Americas
Missing mayor pleads innocence
09 Jun 00 | World
Drugs: A global business
26 Jan 01 | Americas
TV star murder suspects freed
05 Jul 00 | Americas
Mexican leader promises reforms
Internet links:


The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Links to more Americas stories are at the foot of the page.


E-mail this story to a friend

Links to more Americas stories