GARCIA, Mexico -- Authorities have arrested 10 suspects -- including 4 police officers -- in the assassination of an army general who had been appointed police chief of a northern Mexican town over the weekend.

Nuevo Leon state Attorney General Alejandro Garza y Garza says the killing of Brig. Gen. Juan Arturo Esparza had its origins in an illegal quarrying company.

He said Thursday that one of the suspects was facing investigation for operating the company and had enlisted the help of organized crime members to intimidate officials in the town of Garcia outside the northern industrial city of Monterrey.

Garza y Garza did not specify what criminal group is allegedly involved, but Mexico's powerful drug cartels often control other illegal activities.