January 9, 2010
Mexico migration officials suspected of trafficking Chinese


MEXICAN police detained 20 migration officials from Cancun airport, in southeast Mexico, on Friday under suspicion of trafficking undocumented migrants from China, the Interior Ministry said.

Authorities began an investigation in November after 35 Chinese citizens arrived at Guadalajara airport, in western Mexico, from Cancun airport "where migration officials had stamped their false passports," a ministry statement said.

Other Cancun airport officials were also under investigation, it added.

Around 500,000 foreigners enter Mexico illegally each year by land, sea or air, in a bid to continue to the United States, according to the National Commission of Human Rights.

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