Guatemala Police
Chief, Anti-Drug Czar Arrested
GUATEMALA (AP) - Guatemala's national police
chief and anti-drug czar were detained
Tuesday in connection with stolen cocaine in
a case that led to the deaths of five police
agents.
Police Chief Baltazar González, anti-drug
czar Nelly Bonilla and a third, unidentified
official were being held "for being linked
to the robbery of drugs in Amatitlán in
March 2009," Attorney General Amilcar
Velásquez said.
None of the three had been charged.
Police at the time said the March 2009
gunbattle involved members of the Zetas, a
group of hit men that originated in the
Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which borders
Texas.
Velásquez did not describe how the death of
the police agents was related to the stolen
cocaine in Amatitlán.
González is the second national police chief
to be detained over allegations of drug ties
in the past year. In September, Porfirio
Pérez was suspended and later detained after
being accused of stealing $300,000 from
smugglers. He is awaiting trial.
The arrests Tuesday rocked the government of
leftist President Álvaro Colóm, who is
scheduled to meet this week with U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. |
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