Adrián Samos, who denied the allegations, last week was the target of an attack.

He was unharmed, but one of his bodyguards was killed and three were wounded.

Christián Vázquez, arrested for his suspected role in that attack, told authorities Samos had not complied with an agreement with a Cancún drug boss and was therefore targeted to be killed.

Quintana Roo Attorney General Bello Melchor Rodríguez, for his part, said in a news conference Tuesday that federal prosecutors will investigate Vázquez´s allegations against the police chief.

According to the suspect, Samos had received a suitcase full of dollars in bribe money in exchange for not interfering in a turf war over the main square in Cancún, the nation´s top tourist destination.

Vázquez also accused eight state Judicial Police agents, municipal officers and a prosecutor of having links to drug trafficking.

In an interview with Enfoque Radio, Samos said the accusation was part of a "strategy" by criminal gangs to halt the work being carried out against them by Cancún authorities.

In recent days, President Felipe Calderón said it is regrettable that drug-trafficking gangs have infiltrated some areas of the police.

Calderón added that his government is working to combat "impunity" and "illegality" within the country´s institutions.