Mexican judge dismisses case against 5 officers accused of aiding drug gang in Michoacan

Mexican judge dismisses case against 5 officers

MORELIA, Mexico — A judge has dismissed charges against five former state and local police officers and ordered their release a year after they were arrested on suspicion of aiding drug traffickers in Mexico’s western Michoacan state.

The four state investigators and a city police officer from the port city of Lazaro Cardenas were detained in raids along with 30 other local and state officials.

The officials were charged with protecting members of La Familia drug cartel, which is based in Michoacan.

All but one official — the former mayor of Mugica — have since been released for lack of evidence or found not guilty.