Mexican ex-governor detained on corruption charges is 3rd this year

Undated photo of Roberto Borge, the former governor of Quintana Roo, visiting Cancun, Mexico. (EFE)

Another former Mexican governor is behind bars on corruption allegations.

Roberto Borge, who was governor of Quintana Roo from 2011 to 2016, was arrested in Panama in connection with the sale of state properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

FUGITIVE MEXICAN EX-GOVERNOR DETAINED IN GUATEMALA

Borge is the third ex-governor from President Enrique Pena Nieto's governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, detained this year on corruption allegations.

Roberto Borge, then candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI, in a July 4, 2010 file photo. (AP)

Tamaulipas ex-Gov. Tomas Yarrington and Veracruz ex-Gov. Javier Duarte were arrested in April in Italy and Guatemala, respectively.

The federal Attorney General's Office said in a statement that Borge was detained at the Panama City airport just as he was to board a flight to Paris.

MEXICAN EX-GOVERNOR EVADED JUSTICE WITH HELP OF ACCOMPLICES

In February, Mexican prosecutors seized 25 parcels of state-owned land worth more than $250 million that were allegedly sold to private parties at a fraction of their market value.

The sales took place during Borge's time in office, and Mexican media reports have linked the buyers to him.

The Caribbean coastal state of Quintana Roo is home to Cancun and other resort cities.

The AP contributed to this report.