MEXICO CITY, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two members of the military and the chief of police from a municipality in western Mexican state of Jalisco were arrested on charges of arms trafficking, the attorney general's office said on Friday.
According to a report from the prosecution, federal police carried out three simultaneous raid operations in Mexico City and the northeast states of Jalisco and Sinaloa.
Eight people were detained and the authorities seized more than 5,000 rounds, five assault rifles, a gun and about 12,712 U.S. dollars in cash.
The report said that the chief of police from the municipality of Villa Corona in Jalisco, Sergio Aguila, was being investigated along with two members of the military and other people for organized crime for financial gain purposes and arms trafficking.
"Investigations found potential offenses covered by the Firearms and Explosives Act, in which public servants and civilians were involved," the authorities said.
The Mexican government announced earlier this month that it would step up the fight against arms trafficking.
As part of that initiative, the Mexican Foreign Ministry requested the United States to carry out greater efforts against this crime, given that seven out of 10 weapons used to commit crimes in Mexico come from the United States.
