The News
Friday 29 of March 2024

Seven Veracruz Police Officers Accused of Enforced Disappearance


Papantla police officers,photo: Gustavo Duran
Papantla police officers,photo: Gustavo Duran
Only two of the victims’ relatives have filed formal complaints

In a statement, Veracruz’s Prosecutors Office informed that seven municipal police officers, including the commissioner, from the Papantla municipality in the state of Veracruz, were arrested by agents of the ministerial police and accused of the crime of enforced disappearance against three young people.

Agents of the ministerial police with the support of the civil force, and working in coordination with the institutions of the Veracruz Coordination Group, managed to arrest the accused officers after the evidence obtained in a previous investigation, stared on March 20, was deemed sufficient.

50320143. Papantla de Olarte, Ver.- Aspectos de la seguridad en el marco del Festival Cumbre Tajín 2015. NOTIMEX/FOTO/GUSTAVO DURÁN/GDH/ACE/
The investigation that led to the arrest of the police officers started on March 20. Photo: Notimex/Gustavo Durán

According to testimonies given to the authorities by witnesses, the direct accusations are against municipal police officers who allegedly restrained the three young persons and took them away in their patrol cars.

It should also be noted that only two of the victims’ relatives have filed formal complaints.

Once identified, the police officers were summoned in order to give their ministerial statements. However, they declined to appear before the prosecutor.

50320142. Papantla de Olarte, Ver.- Aspectos de la seguridad en el marco del Festival Cumbre Tajín 2015. NOTIMEX/FOTO/GUSTAVO DURÁN/GDH/ACE/
The municipal police officers were admitted to the regional prison. Photo: Notimex/Gustavo Durán

However, the volume of evidence collected during the investigation and the forensic research conducted on the patrols, along wth several interviews and testimonies given by eyewitnesses, resulted in arrest warrants ordered by a judge.

The municipal police officers were admitted to the regional prison.