Gunmen ambush Mexican police in southern Guerrero state, handcuff victims and open fire

Nearly a dozen police officers were killed by unidentified gunmen in Mexico's southern Guerrero state, according to area media reports citing police sources.

The local Mexican press says 11 police officers and two security chiefs were ambushed by in the Coyuca de Benítez municipality, west of the Pacific resort town of Acapulco on Monday.

This is not the first shocking attack in the region. Last year, the mayor of a small town in Guerrero was murdered by gunmen. Police said the attack was launched by a local gang connected to a drug cartel.

In a shocking display of cruelty, law enforcement agents discovered that some of Monday’s victims were handcuffed before being riddled with gunfire, according to El Universal newspaper.

Cartel and drug related violence Mexico has hit a new high during the past year with heavily protected resort towns such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen becoming targets. In many instances, drug dealers have boldly pursued tourists into their hotels and gone as far as slashing their throats and riddling local bar and restaurant establishments with gunfire.

Guerrero has also encountered drug-trafficking related violence. 

Several area drug cartel related enterprises have been fighting one another for control since the area is considered to have lucrative drug routes along the north Pacific corridor.

Guerrero is also a popular area to produce heroin and grow of opium poppies.