Mexico Replaces All Police at Capital Airport After Shooting

Mexico’s federal police agency has replaced all 348 officers at the capital’s international airport almost two months after police there shot dead three of their fellow officers in an alleged drug related killing.

The new agents have been drawn from across Mexico and have all passed psychological and drug tests, regional federal police chief Luis Cardenas said at a news conference.

Three federal policemen have been charged in the June 25 killings, which were embarrassing for President Felipe Calderon, who has waged a six year offensive against drug cartels.

{snip}

Cardenas said the officers were involved in smuggling in cocaine from South America and attacked officers who spotted their wrongdoing.

{snip}

There have been than 55,000 drug related killings, including those of 3,000 police officers, in Mexico since Calderon took office in late 2006.

{snip}