The head of Mexico's intelligence service has said that drug cartels are threatening the country's democratic institutions, including Congress

Guillermo Valdes has said that drug traffickers were trying to take over the power of the state. Gangs have infiltrated police forces, justice departments and government bodies, he said. Mexico has seen a sharp increase in drug-related violence in 2008. Valdes, who is the head of Cisen, the government's intelligence agency, said he could not rule out the possibility that drug money was involved in the campaigns of some members of the national Congress.