Mexican police linked to rising kidnappings

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Mexican police linked to rising kidnappings
Many are afraid to contact authorities about abductions, fearing officers could be involved. The problem is an awkward one for President Felipe Calderon's drug war.
By Marla Dickerson and Cecilia Sanchez, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
August 5, 2008

MEXICO CITY -- When their 14-year-old son was snatched off the street by armed men in early June, the Marti family reportedly did what many wealthy Mexicans do in such a crisis.

The founders of a chain of sporting goods stores hired a private negotiator to deal directly with the kidnappers. They said nothing to police or to the press. They paid millions of dollars in ransom money. Then they waited for a signal that the boy had been released.

It was not to be.

Fernando Marti's decomposed, bullet-riddled body was found Friday in the trunk of a stolen Chevy that had been abandoned in a working-class Mexico City neighborhood. For many, Monday's news was equally bad: Authorities said they had arrested at least one city police commander in connection with the crime, and that other cops might be involved.

The possibility of police involvement comes at an awkward time for President Felipe Calderon, who has been waging a high-stakes war against violent drug cartels since taking office in December 2006.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexkidnap5-2008aug05,0,5466136.story

[webDude]

1. why do I think that the millions(billions?) sent down there has...

...little to do with fighting "the war on drugs" and a lot to do with control of the populace?

[sasquatch]

2. Jesus don't these Mexican cops realize they can't get away with that stuff

They aren't in America don't know.