Mexico City, July 8 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Mexico's General Attorney officials arrested three people on Tuesday on charges of extortion.

Among the detainees is a Pemex official. The arrest comes after the Ministry of Public Administration launched an investigation into alleged extortion practices by Pemex officials against the Super Pereyra company that offers lodging and food services to offshore Pemex workers. According to the investigation, the state-run oil giant asked the company for 10 million Mexican pesos in cash (some $631,905) and two vans to allow them to continue giving food and lodging services to offshore Pemex workers in the southern state of Campeche.

Meanwhile, Pemex said Tuesday in an official statement that it has also begun an investigation after the applicant company filed a lawsuit against one of its officials. The document adds that Pemex is collaborating with the investigation by providing all the information requested by authorities in order to reach “the ultimate consequences” in this case.

Pemex makes several auctions among service providers from different branches in order to meet its operational needs. According to recent reports, more than 100 contracts signed by Pemex between 2003 and 2012, worth $11.7 billion, have had serious issues, according to the Federal Comptroller’s Office of the lower house of the Mexican Congress.

Last year, President Enrique Peña Nieto pushed through a sweeping energy reform bill that opens the sector to foreign investors. The bill has been rejected by many sectors of society on allegations that it will bring, among other things, more cases of corruption.