Mexican security forces killed 12 suspected cartel members and arrested nine others during a large-scale operation Saturday in the rural town of Huitzontla, Michoacán, the country’s Security Ministry confirmed.

The raid, led by Mexico’s Navy in response to rising criminal activity in the region, resulted in injuries to three naval personnel. Security Minister Omar Harfuch announced the outcome on social media, stating that those arrested face serious charges, including homicide, extortion, and kidnapping.

Authorities recovered a cache of weapons and tactical gear at the site, which is believed to be a stronghold for drug trafficking operations linked to organized crime.

The Security Ministry said the troops came under heavy fire, prompting what it called a “proportional response in accordance with legal protocols.”

Local outlets El Universal and La Jornada reported that the suspects are believed to belong to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a group labeled a terrorist organization by the United States earlier this year due to its extreme violence and international criminal reach.

Michoacán remains one of Mexico’s most dangerous states, plagued by ongoing turf wars between rival cartels seeking control over strategic drug routes and maritime trafficking corridors.