Mexico imposes military control over seaport in cartel-plagued state

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's military has taken effective control of one of the nation's biggest seaports as part of an effort to bring drug-cartel activity under control in the western state of Michoacan.

Federal security spokesman Eduardo Sanchez says army troops will take over policing duties in the city of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan.

Sanchez said Navy personnel will take over as heads of the administration and port captaincy of the seaport of the same name.

Sanchez said Monday that about 186 customs and tax inspectors and officials at the seaport will be rotated out of their positions gradually.

The port of Lazaro Cardenas has seen a number of huge seizures of precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamines.

The dominant Knights Templar cartel is fighting vigilante "self-defense" groups for control of Michoacan.