Mexican army swallows up national guard to take on bigger policing role

• National guard replaced federal police two years ago
• Critics say army not trained or suited for law enforcement

Mexico's president has announced plans to make the national guard part of the army, erasing the thin pretense of a civilian-controlled force that was used to gain approval for its creation two years ago.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dissolved the former federal police soon after taking office in late 2018, saying the force was corrupt. He replaced it with the national guard under the nominal control of the civilian public safety department.