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VERACRUZ, Mexico – Federal investigators questioned 48 Veracruz city traffic officers Wednesday about the disappearance of the top customs official for one of Mexico's most important ports.
Customs administrator Francisco Serrano has not been seen since his smashed government vehicle was found abandoned at an accident scene three days ago, Veracruz state prosecutor Salvador Mikel said.
Investigators decided to question the officers, who were on duty when the crash happened, after viewing footage from street security cameras, Mikel said. He did not elaborate.
Serrano recently launched a new system to check shipping containers at the Gulf coast port in Veracruz, which has seen increasing drug violence in recent years.
As federal forces were rounding up the transit officers Tuesday, a state police officer and his bodyguard were found fatally shot in the head in the Veracruz state town of Catemaco. The town's police chief, Silvio Reyes, blamed drug gangs.
Customs spokesman Pedro Canabal said the federal government ordered police to comb the coast state in search of Serrano.
President Felipe Calderon's government has been moving forward in its campaign to root out corruption in recent weeks. Federal agents detained 58 police officers — including two chiefs — in several northern cities this week for questioning on suspicion of ties to traffickers.
Last week, federal officials arrested 10 mayors and 20 other officials in the western state of Michoacan on suspicion of protecting the La Familia cartel.
Calderon has deployed more than 45,000 soldiers in a U.S.-backed offensive against the drug cartels, but he acknowledges that corruption is a major obstacle.
More than 10,750 people have been killed in drug violence since the crackdown began in 2006.
Customs administrator Francisco Serrano has not been seen since his smashed government vehicle was found abandoned at an accident scene three days ago, Veracruz state prosecutor Salvador Mikel said.
Investigators decided to question the officers, who were on duty when the crash happened, after viewing footage from street security cameras, Mikel said. He did not elaborate.
Serrano recently launched a new system to check shipping containers at the Gulf coast port in Veracruz, which has seen increasing drug violence in recent years.
As federal forces were rounding up the transit officers Tuesday, a state police officer and his bodyguard were found fatally shot in the head in the Veracruz state town of Catemaco. The town's police chief, Silvio Reyes, blamed drug gangs.
Customs spokesman Pedro Canabal said the federal government ordered police to comb the coast state in search of Serrano.
President Felipe Calderon's government has been moving forward in its campaign to root out corruption in recent weeks. Federal agents detained 58 police officers — including two chiefs — in several northern cities this week for questioning on suspicion of ties to traffickers.
Last week, federal officials arrested 10 mayors and 20 other officials in the western state of Michoacan on suspicion of protecting the La Familia cartel.
Calderon has deployed more than 45,000 soldiers in a U.S.-backed offensive against the drug cartels, but he acknowledges that corruption is a major obstacle.
More than 10,750 people have been killed in drug violence since the crackdown began in 2006.
