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Mexican army detains ex-Calif. cop on drug charges

Mario Herrera Sanchez was caught unloading 82 pounds of marijuana

The Associated Press

TIJUANA, Mexico — A former police officer in the Baja California city of Rosarito has been detained along with another man while allegedly unloading marijuana from a boat on a beach.

The Mexican army says Mario Herrera Sanchez was caught by soldiers as he and an 18-year-old suspect unloaded 82 pounds (37 kilograms) of marijuana. It says they also had two pistols and a small amount of cocaine.

An army statement released Monday says Herrera Sanchez worked for the Tijuana-based Arellano Felix cartel and is suspected of having carried out killings, kidnappings, drug trafficking and attacks on police.

Such suspects are normally turned over to Mexican civilian authorities pending charges.