Four gunmen dead on Navy operation in northern Mexico

Four gunmen dead on Navy operation in northern Mexico

2011-02-03 05:28:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

NUEVO LEON, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- The Mexican Navy on Wednesday killed four gunmen following a confrontation during an operation in Northern Mexico, El Universal newspaper reported.

The shooting took place at around 8:00 a.m. local time in Nuevo Leon state in Mexico's drug plagued north. The Navy operation targeted an apartment building in San Pedro Garza Garcia municipality.

The operative was launched after receiving reports of illegal activities at the building located between Porfirio Díaz Street and Jimenez Street. As Navy soldiers entered the complex, gunmen opened fire at them.

Soldiers fired back and killed four gunmen as they were protecting a suspected drug trafficker. Many of them escaped using various pick up trucks parked nearby. The two vehicles were later found abandoned near the crime scene.

After the operation, the Navy secured five vehicles, four assault rifles, and one pistol. No Navy casualties or injuries were reported. A woman was detained as she was inside the apartment.

In January, 122 people were killed in drug-related crimes in Nuevo Leon state, according to Milenio television. From such amount, only 21 were law enforcement agents.

On Tuesday, three people were killed after a shooting between police forces and suspected gunmen in a mall. Hours later, a police officer was killed by a group of armed men in Apodaca municipality.

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