Suspected kidnap leaves Mexico town without police

A burnt out shell in the Mexican border town of Guadalupe has prompted a search for its last remaining police officer.

It is believed the house was set alight by unidentified gunmen before the female officer was abducted last week. She has not been seen since.

28-year-old Erika Gandara had patrolled the town of 9,000 inhabitants since June, the last remaining officer after all her colleagues had resigned or were killed in the region’s drug wars.

Carlos Gonzalez from the Attorney General’s office explained what had happened.

“She was the only officer, a woman, of the force. She was removed violently from her home by a group of armed men.”

In a neighbouring town there were no applications to become police chief when the post became vacant.

In the end a 20-year-old student took the job highlighting the problems as drug gangs battle for control. Statistics show that women are among the few still willing to serve in the police.

The search is continuing for the missing officer, another person caught in the drug wars that have claimed the lives of more than 30,000 since 2006.

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