National Public Safety System secretary Juan Miguel Alcantara says 172 cities and towns have failed to “demonstrate advances” in improving police equipment, training and salaries.

He says that among the problems is a failure to raise police salaries, which are so low they encourage corruption.

Alcantara told Milenio TV on Monday that Ciudad Juarez, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo, cities along the border with Texas, are among those being cut off.

The money is given three times a year to cities with the highest kidnapping and murder rates.

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