A beauty queen has been arrested for allegedly being part of a criminal gang.
Laura Mojica Romero, who won the coveted title of Miss Oaxaca back in 2018, was one of eight people to be arrested by police in Mexico.
According to reports, the 25-year-old allegedly belongs to a criminal organisation that specialises in carrying out kidnappings in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz.
Advert
The official police reports states that the suspects involved in the case are named Luis Antonio, Raul, Maria del Rosario, Ana Martha, Cesar Enrique, Diego and Jossiel.
The Veracruz State Attorney General's Office confirmed the group had been detained in the city of Huatusco de Chicuellar in the Mexican state of Veracruz on 11 February.
A translated statement from the State Attorney's Office read: "In compliance with the instruction issued by the State Attorney General, Verónica Hernández Giadáns, not to give truce to people who seriously injure Veracruz society, specialised prosecutors attached to the Specialised Unit in Combating Kidnapping ( UECS) obtained eight links to the process against the same number of people, presumably members of a criminal cell dedicated to kidnapping.
Advert
"The capture of Luis Antonio, Raúl, María del Rosario, Ana Martha, Laura, César Enrique, Diego and Jossiel took place this judicial demarcation when specialised personnel in fighting kidnapping implemented an operation to capture those now linked to the process."
The statement continued: "The eight alleged kidnappers were at the disposal of the specialised prosecutor, who, by providing the conclusive evidence against them, obtained from the judicial authority the corresponding process links and the imposition of the corresponding precautionary measures, as well as two months for the complementary investigation.
"With these actions, the State Attorney General's Office reaffirms its unrestricted commitment to fight head-on against this type of criminal behaviour that seriously damages the freedom of Veracruz citizens."
Advert
A judge has given the authorities two months to investigate the charges, with all eight suspects remanded in custody until it has been concluded.
If they are found guilty, Mojica Romero and her alleged colleagues could face up to 50 years in prison.
According to reports, Mojica Romero also won Miss Earth Oaxaca in 2015, was the runner-up at the International Queen of Coffee last year, and was the third runner-up at Miss Mexico
2019.
Advert
Speaking back in January 2019 after her Miss Oaxaca triumph, Mojica Romero said it was time to end violence against women.
She said: "We can't stand idly by, we have to eradicate violence against women, through campaigns and educational talks that make men aware of this issue."
Featured Image Credit: NewsflashTopics: Police, World News, crime, Mexico, Russia