MEXICO CITY — A police chief from a small town in central Mexico took his own life on Friday as law enforcement officials approached to arrest him during a series of corruption crackdowns that also led to the arrest of a mayor from a nearby municipality.

The operations occurred in two rural localities within the State of Mexico, situated west of Mexico City, in addition to a densely populated suburb adjacent to the capital. An assistant police chief was also taken into custody during these actions.

According to state prosecutors, the police chief from Texcaltitlan ended his life using his service weapon as marines, National Guard members, and soldiers were closing in on him amid ongoing investigations into unspecified allegations.

Furthermore, the mayor of Amanalco, a neighboring town, was arrested on multiple charges during the same series of raids. This particular region has been long affected by the notorious La Familia Michoacana crime syndicate, which is notorious for drug trafficking, kidnappings, and extortion practices.

In addition to targeting rural areas, authorities made an arrest in Naucalpan, a sprawling suburb with a population of around 775,000 residents positioned on the northwestern fringe of Mexico City, where an assistant police chief was also detained.

While exact charges were not disclosed by state prosecutors, local news outlets reported that the apprehended officials are suspected of collaborating with organized crime networks. Over the years, local government officials have often been bullied, coerced, or financially incentivized by gangs and drug cartels to act in their favor, which may include siphoning off municipal funds or employing local police to shield their operations from federal scrutiny. In some instances, police officials have also been known to engage independently in the drug trade for financial gain.