Mexican army and drug gangs clash

The Mexican military has engaged in deadly clashes with suspected drug cartels in the northern state of Nuevo Leon where the suspects have set up road blocks for the second day.

At least three suspected gang members were killed in separate shooting incidents in the northern city of Monterrey where a soldier was also hurt in Friday clashes.

Conflict broke out after the suspects continued to block roads in the city for the second day, in an attempt to prevent security patrols.

They also engaged the Mexican troops first, the army said in a statement.

The criminal groups' members also set a number of vehicles alight and stopped the traffic on 30 roads leading to and out of Monterrey for over 24 hours, local officials said.

At least two have been arrested in connection with the latest episode and the country's naval forces announced that they have captured a top drug cartel operator known as Alberto "Bad Boy" Mendoza in the latest crackdown in the area.

Around 18,000 people have died in drug-related incidents so far since the country's war on drugs was launched in 2006.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121268§ionid=351020705.