Soldiers and police killed 12 suspected drug cartel gunmen in a shootout in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, state officials said.

The shootout occurred Tuesday in Palo Gacho, a community in the city of Emiliano Zapata, some 15 kilometers (93 miles) from Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz.

State police, army troops and marines found a training camp belonging to a criminal organization in Palo Gacho and were attacked by the gunmen.

The security forces returned fire, killing the 12 criminals, state officials said.