The State Department has closed the US consulate in Nuevo Laredo , Mexico . The reason for the closing is that the Justice Department is investigating allegations that the consulate illegally sold visas to a number of people. It is the sixth busiest US consulate in the world, issuing 117,000 visas last year.

According to Mexican police, they heard rumors last November that Mexican citizens were being approached by consulate employees with offers to sell visas. They passed the information on to the US government, which is investigating. According to a Mexican news agency, consulate personnel have been ordered not to leave Nuevo Laredo while the investigation continues.

Officials believe the most of the documents sold were either tourist visas or border crossing cards. The names of those who bought visas are being entered into lookout lists and are being distributed to law enforcement agencies.

It is expected that the consulate will reopen shortly, but that visa services will remain on hold for some time.