Mexico City, March 9 (IANS/EFE): Mexican marines detained three armed individuals and confiscated six small planes, weapons and vehicles in a drug bust at a ranch in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, authorities said.

In a joint statement, the government, military, the federal attorney general's office and the National Security Commission said these actions were part of a coordinated strategy by federal forces in Sinaloa.

The operation took place in two communities in the municipality of Culiacan and began when Mexican marines "surprised an individual with a rifle, which he used to threaten the security forces".

In his attempt to flee, this person went to a ranch to alert two other armed individuals, the statement said, adding that the soldiers subsequently found what appeared to be marijuana and crack cocaine at the site.

The security forces detained the three suspects at the ranch and also confiscated six light aircraft and four vehicles, as well as two rifles, a grenade launcher and four ammunition clips containing 118 rounds of ammunition.

The detainees, weapons and apparent drugs were turned over to organised crime prosecutors in Mexico City.

On Feb 22, members of an elite marine unit captured Sinaloa drug cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" (Shorty) Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted fugitive, in Mazatlan, a resort city in Sinaloa.