Mexico investigating three former governors over drug gang ties

Jan 31, 2012, 21:04 GMT

Mexico City - Mexico's attorney general's office is investigating three former governors of the state of Tamaulipas, on the US border, over ties to powerful drug gangs.

The office confirmed Tuesday in a statement that it is investigating Eugenio Hernandez, Tomas Yarrington and Manuel Cavazos Lerma, all of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who led Tamaulipas 1993-2000. Their relatives and aides were also being investigated.

The statement did not specify the crimes for which they are under investigation.

Mexico holds general elections on July 1 in which PRI candidate Enrique Pena Nieto appears as the favourite presidential candidate. The PRI ruled Mexico non-stop from 1929-2000 and is currently in the opposition to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, leader of the National Action Party (PAN) who is banned by law from seeking a second term in office.

Cavazos Lerma, one of the ex-governors under investigation, registered his candidacy for a Senate seat last week and got the support of the PRI.