Suspicion of corruption has nearly all of city's police officers in jail

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- It's hard to find a policeman when you need one, especially in the tough border town of Corumba, where nearly all of the police force is in jail.

Twenty of the city's 25 police officers were arrested late Thursday, accused of corruption and criminal association, Police Chief Marcos Pinheiro said.

Public prosecutors have accused them of charging prisoners for favors, facilitating escapes and ignoring court orders. The group also is under investigation for alleged involvement in trafficking drugs and stolen cars between Brazil and Bolivia, just across the Paraguay River from Corumba, 1,100 miles (1,800 kms) northwest of Rio de Janeiro.

The arrests left police stations understaffed, and extra police were called in from Campo Grande, the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul state, 250 miles (400 kms) away.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

See related sites about Americas

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.