Mexico: federal police chief steps down in narco-scandal

Víctor Gerardo Garay Cadena, acting commander of Mexico’s Federal Preventative Police (PFP), stepped down Oct. 31 under cloud of scandal, after one of his top lieutenants was arrested on charges of providing protection to the Sinaloa Cartel. “I am resigning because in the bloody fight against organized crime, it is our duty to strengthen institutions, which means it is essential to eliminate any shadows of doubt regarding me,” Garay said.

Édgar Enrique Bayardo del Villar, a top investigator with the PFP’s Third Section, was arrested Oct. 22, accused of collaborating with Sinaloa kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. Garay Cadena spent the two days before his resignation testifying about the case before the federal Special Investigative Sub-prosecutor on Organized Crime (SIEDO). (El Universal, Reuters, Nov. 1)

See our last post on Mexico’s narco war.