Mexico to investigate reported drug cartel bribes
Mexican officials are to conduct an investigation into alleged drug cartel briberies designed to make citizens vote for political candidates.
[The] Associated Press reported that prosecutors announced on November 22nd that a formal review of taped phone conversations in which a gang leader [purportedly] threatened residents of a town is to be undertaken.
In the conversation the reputed drug boss, who tried to get the citizens to vote in favour of a particular government candidate, reportedly claimed that a rival cartel financed the campaign of another party.
According to the tape, Horacio Morales Baca reportedly said that anyone who voted for the Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD, would come under threat from violent gang acts.
The voice said: "Anybody who tells … anybody from the PRD that I called and told you this, and there is some kind of legal challenge in Morelia (the Michoacan state capital), that person's house will be burned with their family inside."
A report on Monsters and Critics suggested that Mexico and US relations have become defined by the ongoing drug war in the country.
