The officers were arrested in operations in the eastern states of San Luis Potosi and Veracruz.

 

A turf war（地盘争夺战） between the Zetas and rival criminal organisations in Veracruz has led to some of Mexico's worst massacres² in recent years.

 

Local police officers are often accused of ties with the drug cartels.

 

In a statement, the Navy said the 35 people arrested "were all police officers in the Veracruz public security department and allegedly collaborated³ with the Zetas criminal organisation¹".

 

They were arrested on Saturday in the cities of Xalapa - capital of Veracruz state - and San Luis Potosi, but information on the operation was only released on Monday.

 

The 35 police officers have been taken to Mexico City to be brought before the media.

 

Last year, the federal government deployed⁴ thousands of troops and federal police to Veracruz, a strategic state for trafficking routes into the United States.

 

Several cartels are battling for control of the state, among them "los Zetas", says the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico.

 

The Mexican Navy has intervened in several municipalities, taking over anti-drug duties from local police officers.

 

The Zetas were set up originally as the armed wing of the Gulf⁵ drug cartel, but they became bitter enemies after breaking ties in 2010.

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