MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (AHN) -- Mexico's Veracruz state government disbanded the entire police force of its Gulf coast port city and replaced it with the navy's marines.

The replacement of the 1,100 police officers and civilian staff of the Veracruz city police force was aimed at improving security and rooting out corrupt cops, according to state officials.

Veracruz state governor Javier Duarte said Wednesday the fired policemen can rejoin a new police force to be created if they pass more stringent standards for training and trustworthiness.

The disbanded police force apparently failed to curb drug trafficking-related killings in the city. Some 2,400 marines have been performing law enforcement duties, including patrols, since September following the dumping of 35 bodies in a main road of the city. The marines discovered 32 more bodies in different buildings two weeks later.

The victims were believed executed by rival drug gangs Gulf Cartel and Zetas in their bid to take control of drug trafficking trade between Mexico and the U.S.

Troops and federal policemen have also taken over the role of police forces in other cities across Mexico.

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