At least 40 people were killed on Friday after a bloody gunfight in western Mexico between government forces and suspected drug gang henchmen, media sources said.

Clashes erupted when shots were fired at a police car traveling along a highway near a village on the border with the Mexican state of Jalisco. Gunmen were suspected members of the Jalisco New Generation drug gang, sources said.

Earlier this month, a number of soldiers were killed after the gang shot down a helicopter.

Mexican authorities in January announced they had arrested a leader of the drug gang.