Along with their assault
rifles
Mexican coppers have been told to hand over their mobile phones
along with their assault rifles and hand grenades.
The legislature in
Nuevo Leon state unanimously approved a bill banning city and state police
from carrying personal mobile phones while on duty. This is apparently to
stop corrupt cops communicating with drug gangs just before they are
busted.
Recently a cop in Monterrey pulled a gun on masked federal agents
during a Mexican standoff. Federal forces raided police stations in 18
towns in Nuevo Leon, which borders Texas, and detained 78 officers suspected
of working with drug smugglers.
Apparently there is no word about how the
ban is supposed to be enforced. Officers in Monterrey complained that they are
finding themselves unable to do their jobs. Which I guess is working for the
drugs dealers most of the time.
Apparently officers who have taken
payoffs from Mexico's brutal drug gangs often have no choice: They either
have to turn a blind eye to trafficking or be killed.