Asia-Pacific

At least 11 killed in Mexican drug feud

(Xinhuq)
Updated: 2009-12-05 14:20

MEXICO CITY: At least 11 suspected drug traffickers were shot dead in Monterrey, a city in northern Mexico, police authorities said Friday.

The crossfire broke out when policemen conducted a drug war operation near the city of Monterrey. The gun-fight took place at a local farm and lasted for nearly one hour, a police officer said.

It is reported that the gunmen were thought to be part of the Zeta drug cartel. During the operation, seven suspects were killed at the ranch, while the others were later tracked down by police forces, leading to another gun fight.

Given its geographic location, Mexico, a major drug producing and transit country, is the key foreign supplier of marijuana to the United States and Europe.

More than 14,000 lives have been claimed in Mexico in drug-related violence since 2006, when President Felipe Calderon took office and deployed 50,000 troops to fight violence and crackdown on drug trafficking.