Drug Kingpins Corrupt Elite Mexican Unit

Two senior officials from an elite Mexican anti-drug unit have been arrested and charged with spying for drug cartels, the Los Angeles Times reports, and dozens of agents have been fired following a tip-off from a captured informant. Prosecutors say the officials leaked information to the gangs they were supposed to be targeting in return for hundreds of thousands of dollars a month.

"They handed over secret information and details of operations against the Beltran Leyva criminal organization," Mexico's attorney general said. Mexican authorities fear the corruption in a once-trusted unit has dealt a hammer blow to its war on drugs—especially as it is likely to make American anti-drug agencies more wary of sharing information with their Mexican counterparts. (More Mexico stories.)