Eight suspects killed in shootout with Mexican Army

[News_Editor]

Eight suspects killed in shootout with Mexican Army

2011-08-17 11:16:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

MORELIA, MÉXICO (BNO NEWS) – Eight alleged members of a criminal gang were killed on Tuesday morning during a clash with Mexican Army forces in the western state of Michoacán, officials said.

The incident occurred at around 5.30 a.m. local time on Tuesday in the municipality of Tacámbaro when Army vehicles were patrolling the area and noticed armed gunmen in trucks who refused to stop their vehicles. The gunmen then opened fire, after which soldiers returned fire, killing eight gunmen.

During the operation, the Army seized high-powered firearms, late model vehicles, ammunition, among other items. In addition to the killed gunmen, one Mexican soldier sustained injuries.

Several criminal organizations are active in the state of Michoacán, most notably the so called La Familia Michoacana, one of Mexico's top drug cartels. Also operating in the region is the so called Knights Templar gang, which emerged as an offshoot of the La Familia cartel after its leader Nazario Moreno died in December 2010.

According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes occurred in Mexico in 2010, while more than 40,000 people have died in drug-related violence since Mexican President Felipe Calderon began his campaign to fight organized crime in December 2006.

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