Mexico
Drug cartel members arrested for murder of ex-army general
Article published on the 2009-02-12 Latest update 2009-02-12 14:36 TU
An army checkpoint in the town of Villa Ahumada.
(Photo: Reuters)
Mexican police have arrested seven people in connection with the torture and murder of ex-army General Mauro Enrique Tello in the city of Cancun. Meanwhile the Green party in Mexico continues its campaign for the reintroduction of the death penalty for murderers and kidnappers.
Members of the Los Zeta drug cartel, including its leader Octavio Almanza, were arrested on Monday alongside an army lieutenant for involvement in Enrique Tello's murder.
Los Zeta is regularly involved in violence and moved into the drug trade in the late 1990s.
Earlier in the week Cancun’s police chief was also arrested for complicity in the murder.
The incident shocked Cancun after the body of Tello was discovered in a car outside the city.
He had been tortured and sprayed with bullets, before being found alongside two others.
The town, which is usually a popular tourist resort, is also a well-known destination for cocaine arriving from central and south America.
Violence relating to the illegal drug trade is on the increase in Mexico, with more than 5,000 people killed last year.
Despite initiatives by President Felipe Calderon, fighting between rival drug cartels has not abated.
This has led to a campaign to restore the death penalty.
“Mexico’s Green Party is urging the death penalty for kidnappers who torture, mutilate or murder their victims,” says correspondent James Blears.
Report: Campaign for the death penalty in Mexico
Although Calderon opposes the death penalty, there will be a congressional debate about the issue.
“This would reverse the 2005 abolition, but in practice it’s been almost 50 years since the last execution […] crime, particularly related to drug cartels is soaring,” Blears says.
The Green Party has placed huge black posters across Mexico City proclaiming, “Because we care about your life, death penalty for murderers and kidnappers”.
Kidnapping in Mexico is more prevalent than Iraq.
