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Ex-crime chief arrested in Mexico Ex-crime chief arrested in Mexico
(30 minutes later)
The former head of Mexico's anti-organised crime agency has been arrested during an investigation into links to drug cartels. The ex-head of Mexico's anti-organised crime agency has been arrested as part of a probe into links to drug cartels.
Noe Ramirez, who headed the Special Organised Crime Investigation Division, was held in an operation that has seen a number of senior officials detained. Noe Ramirez Mandujano was held in an operation that has detained other senior officials.
He resigned in July as part of a shake-up by President Felipe Calderon. The attorney general said Mr Ramirez accepted $450,000 (£304,000) from cartels and was offered a monthly fee for information.
The attorney general said Mr Ramirez accepted $450,000 from cartels and was offered a monthly fee for information. Mexico's drugs crackdown this year has seen many arrests but thousands have also died in drugs-related violence.
Interpol head
The office of Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora said Mr Ramirez had spoken to investigators voluntarily and was subsequently detained.The office of Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora said Mr Ramirez had spoken to investigators voluntarily and was subsequently detained.
Mr Ramirez, who took up his post in 2006, is the highest-ranking law official yet detained in Operation Clean-up, which was launched to try to curb corruption linked to drug smuggling. He took up his post as head of the Special Organised Crime Investigation Division in 2006 and resigned in July as part of a shake-up by President Felipe Calderon.
Five senior officials and two federal agents have been held in the campaign. Dozens of officials have been sacked. Mr Ramirez is the highest-ranking law official yet detained in Operation Clean-up, which was launched to try to curb corruption linked to drug smuggling.
Mexican authorities have also had success in arresting key members of drug cartels in recent months. Five senior officials and two federal agents have been held in the campaign. The arrests include the head of Mexico's Interpol office. Dozens of officials have been sacked.
On a visit to Chile on Friday, President Calderon said: "The Mexican government is firmly committed to the fight against organised crime and not just organised crime but corruption."
Mexican authorities have had success in arresting key members of drug cartels in recent months.
However across the country this year, more than 4,000 people have died in drug-related violence as gangs fight each other and the security forces.However across the country this year, more than 4,000 people have died in drug-related violence as gangs fight each other and the security forces.
The attorney general's office has particularly targeted links to the cartels of the Beltran Leyva brothers, who recently split from the Sinaloa organisation.The attorney general's office has particularly targeted links to the cartels of the Beltran Leyva brothers, who recently split from the Sinaloa organisation.