MEXICO CITY (KRON) – A Mexican official says about 40 people have been killed in large-scale firefight between law enforcement and criminal suspects in western Mexico.

The official said almost all the dead were suspected criminals. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The gunbattle happened in area between Michoacan and Jalisco states that is known as a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, which has mounted several large-scale attacks on federal and state forces in recent weeks.

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MEXICO CITY (KRON) – Two Mexican officials say a large-scale firefight broke out Friday when federal forces came under fire in an area of western Mexico dominated by drug cartels.

One official said a convoy of federal police and soldiers were ambushed near the border of Michoacan and Jalisco states. Neither official could confirm a number of dead. A federal police official said the country’s top security officials are en route to assess what happened.

The area between Michoacan and Jalisco is known as a stronghold of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which has mounted several large-scale attacks on federal and state forces in recent weeks.

Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.