7 police arrested in investigation of Mexican disappearances

XALAPA, Mexico — The state prosecutor in the eastern Mexico state of Veracruz says seven local police officers have been arrested in connection with the disappearances of three people.

Veracruz state prosecutor Luis Angel Bravo Contreras said Monday at a news conference that the police chief and six officers from Papantla are in custody.

An earlier statement from the Veracruz state public security agency said state and federal law enforcement had coordinated in the arrests Monday morning. They are investigating the disappearances of three people who were last seen March 19 being loaded into police vehicles.

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It is the second case of people disappearing at the hands of police in Veracruz this year. Five youths disappeared after being detained by state police in January. The remains of two were recovered.

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