Mexico City, Mar 4 (IANS/EFE): Two Bengal tigers and several deer were found at an illegal drug laboratory in the western Mexican state of Jalisco by police officers responding to an anonymous tip, media reports said.

Officers made the discovery at two properties located about 20 km northwest of the city of Yahualica, Jalisco Public Safety Commissioner Francisco Alejandro Solorio told the El Informador newspaper.

The "exotic fauna" were found in a warehouse on one of the lots by the officers, who detected a strong odour of "chemical precursors" in the area, Solorio said.

The second lot held 15 cauldrons and chemicals for manufacturing synthetic drugs, Solorio said.

"The people who were apparently there took off when they spotted the (police) units and left behind the camp, which consisted of tents and huts," Solorio told El Informador.

The suspects ran into an area full of ravines and officers were unable to arrest them, the commissioner said.

Investigators have not determined which drug cartel operated the clandestine laboratory, Solorio said.