The Joint Operation Chihuahua office, which did not provide details on the arrests, said the gunmen were captured thanks to intelligence work.

Some 1,400 people have been murdered so far this year in Juarez, located across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, as gunmen working for rival drug cartels battle to gain control of the routes used for smuggling cocaine, marijuana, heroin and other drugs into the US.

In 2008, Juarez earned the dubious distinction of being Mexico's most violent city, living through days when dozens of people were murdered in the span of a few hours, and armed groups committed acts of violence in public areas that terrorised residents.

The border city of 1.5 million people ended 2008 with a total of 1,605 people murdered, according to press tallies, including 77 federal, state and municipal police officers.

Most of the victims of the gunmen, who belonged to the 'La Linea' gang, were involved in 'the sale of drugs, extortion, kidnappings, vehicle theft and violent robberies of local businesses, according to information provided' by the suspects, the Joint Operation Chihuahua office said.