Guatemala's anti-drug chief was arrested and indicted by US authorities on drug-related charges, US officials said Wednesday.

Adan Castillo, chief of Guatemala's special anti-drug police force, was arrested Tuesday after being lured to the United States, together with his deputy and another Guatemalan police officer, according to the officials.

The three men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington DC earlier in the day, on charges of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the United States, after a four- month investigation by US and Guatemalan governments.

If convicted, each of them could face a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail.

In Guatemala, Interior Minister Carlos Vielman confirmed the arrest and said Castillo was lured to the United States at the invitation of a training course.

"It is a powerful blow against the infiltration of organized crime," he said, adding that US authorities had secretly informed the Guatemalan government about Castillo's involvement in drug crimes six months ago.

US officials said the Guatemalan government assisted in the investigation.

According to US government's estimate, some 75 percent of the cocaine which reaches America passes through Guatemala.

Source: Xinhua