Mexico detains ex-general for organized crime

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A recently retired Mexican army general has been placed under a form of house arrest while he is investigated on organized crime charges.

An official of the Attorney General's Office says retired Gen. Juan Manuel Barragan Espinosa was detained Friday.

The official said Monday that the investigation relates to weapons trafficking. The official was not authorized to be quoted by name.

The newspaper Reforma reported Barragan Espinosa allegedly aided the Sinaloa cartel, but the official would not confirm that.

In 1997, Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo was arrested when he was Mexico's drug czar. He was charged with protecting then cocaine kingpin Amado Carrillo Fuentes.