Mexico Nabs 9 Escaped Inmates at Cartel Camp

MEXICO CITY October 4, 2011 (AP)

Mexican authorities say they have tracked down nine escaped prisoners at a drug cartel training camp.

The navy says in a statement that the inmates were sprung from prisons in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz last month so they could work for the Zetas drug cartel.

Tuesday's statement also said a series of raids last week resulted in the arrest of 18 local police officers who allegedly worked for the Zetas.

During the arrests, the officers discovered written information indicating the officers received payments of from 22,000 to 10,000 pesos ($144 to $718) per month from the cartel.

The police were employed in several Veracruz towns and cities. The state is the site of violent turf battles between the Zetas and other drug trafficking groups.

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