Mon, 26 Jan 2009 2:54p.m.
Former Mexican drug czar arrested on suspicion of corruption, abuse of power
Prosecutors have arrested a former Mexican drug czar on suspicion of corruption while he was economy secretary in southern Chiapas state.
- Chiapas state Attorney General Raciel Lopez says Mariano Herran is charged embezzlement stemming from a stint as economy secretary last year. He gave no further details.
- Herran was Mexico's drug czar from 1997 to 2000. He had replaced General Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, who was convicted of aiding a top drug lord.
- Herran served as Chiapas chief prosecutor from 2000 to 2006, then as economy secretary.
His arrest, announced Sunday, comes in the midst of Mexico's biggest corruption scandal since Rebollo: the arrest of a dozen-high ranking officials with alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel.
