Mexico detains 12 federal investigators for allegedly helping hit men kill 8 officers

Mexico detains 12 officers on corruption charges

MEXICO CITY — A Mexican judge has jailed 12 federal police investigators accused of leaking information to hit men who ambushed and killed eight officers in a failed attempt to free a high-level cartel member.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office says the suspects worked as investigators for Mexico’s Federal Agency of Investigations, the country’s equivalent of the FBI.

The office says the 12 investigators allegedly gave information allowing the hit men to carry out the April 19 attack that killed four federal police officers, two federal investigative agents and two prison employees.

At least 20 assailants launched a running gun battle against the vehicles escorting nine prisoners in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit.