3 held in Mexico on extortion charges, including one state oil company employee

Mexico's state oil company says one of its employees is among three people arrested in connection with an alleged extortion scheme.

Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, said in a statement Tuesday that the three allegedly demanded that a company give them 10 million pesos and two pickup trucks to "support" its bid to win a contract to provide food and lodging services on oil platforms in the Campeche Sound.

On June 26, federal authorities arrested the three suspects in a restaurant in the upscale Mexico City neighborhood of Polanco. A judge has ordered them held on extortion charges.

Pemex said the investigation continues into whether other employees were involved.