Mexico violence: Nuevo Laredo police chief missing, brothers shot dead

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The police chief of Nuevo Laredo in northern Mexico has disappeared and his two of his brothers, one of whom was a federal investigator, have been shot dead, in the latest violence to hit the country.

Mexican newspaper Milenio reported Roberto Balmori Garza has been missing for several days and authorities in Tamaulipas state are investigating his disappearance.

Two of Balmori Garza’s brothers were found shot dead in the trunk of a car in the neighboring state of Nuevo Leon on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.

My San Antonio reported Nuevo Laredo, which is located across the border from Laredo, Texas, has been the seen of drug-related violence for the past decade as drug cartels fight for control of the important smuggling route.

The military took over security duties in the city in the summer of 2011 after a former police chief was gunned down, My San Antonio said.

More from GlobalPost: Drug war rages on the edge of Mexico City
 

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.