Officers charged with kidnapping, armed robbery in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY – Authorities arrested four police officers Wednesday and are searching for three others suspected of being part of a criminal network whose activities include robbery and money laundering, officials said during a news conference.

The officers were arrested on charges of kidnapping, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy after a lengthy investigation. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency assisted with the probe, Aldo Chapas, the prosecutor who heads the Public Ministry's anti-drug division, told Paste BN.

The investigation began in December 2015, after the police officers pulled over a pickup truck. They handcuffed the two people inside, loaded them into a car, drove them to a remote location and robbed them, according to prosecutors. Before leaving them stranded and handcuffed, the officers threatened to return and kill their victims if they tried to report the robbery.

Investigators located the vehicle used to transport the prisoners. Inside, they found an empty secret compartment, such as those typically used to smuggle drugs and other contraband.

They also found the vehicle was registered to an agricultural company whose owner is listed as David Estuardo Cervantes Urízar, who is on trial on suspicion of heading a money laundering organization.

Police raided a dozen properties tied to the company Wednesday. They did not recover any drugs or money, but at one location they discovered Ana Waleska Cervantes Urizar, who was wanted on charges of involuntary homicide.

Authorities are exploring possible connections to international criminal networks such as Mexican or Colombian drug cartels as part of an ongoing investigation of the network's activities, Chapas said.