Mexico City, Jul 6 (IANS): At least 14 people were killed during a gunfight in Mexico's Chihuahua state, police said.

The gunfight between members of the La Linea group against the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel took place near the Las Varas area on Wednesday, Efe news reported.

Security forces seized 20 guns and 10 vehicles at the scene and three gunmen - two from La Linea - are in custody.

Police "were met by gunfire" when they reached the site, but soon managed to bring the situation under control, Chihuahua Security Commissioner Oscar Alberto Aparicio said.

"These criminals were the ones who killed two state police officers in Las Varas last week," the commissioner added.

The office of the State Prosecutor General (FGE) issued a statement, saying: "A security and surveillance operation was deployed in the communities of Las Varas, Largo Maderal and Mesa del Huracan following the clashes that took place between criminal groups."