Mexico City, Aug 8 (EFE) Nine gunmen and three police personnel were killed in a gunfight in Mexico's central Hidalgo state, officials said Friday.

The fighting started when gunmen opened fire at the police that tried to search their vehicles in Mineral de la Reforma town, Attorney General Jose Alberto Rodriguez Calderon said.

He said the police were searching for four abducted government officials when the incident took place. The missing federal officers were later found in Pachuca, capital of Hidalgo state.

The police have seized four vehicles, six AK-47 rifles, 1,000 rounds of ammunition, two grenades, 11 bulletproof vests, seven pair of handcuffs and 1.29 million pesos ($99,000) in cash following the attack. One of the gunmen managed to escape, Rodriguez said.

Mexico has been plagued by drug-related violence in recent years, with powerful cartels battling each other to gain control of the smuggling and distribution routes.

In 2008, more than 6,000 people have been killed in drug related violence in Mexico.