Nearly 23,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since the launch of a government crackdown on drug gangs at the end of 2006, according to a government report. The report, leaked to media on Tuesday, said gang violence has continued surging this year, with 3,365 people killed between January and March.

The confidential report, sent to parliamentarians, indicated security forces have been involved in most of the gunbattles of the past three years: 977 fights have been between gangs and security forces, compared to 309 between rival gangs.

The total toll of 22,743 deaths was a rise of more than 7,000 compared with previous official estimates. The worst-hit regions were in northern areas near the 3,200-kilometre US border.
The government report said Chihuahua state was Mexico's hardest-hit state, with 6,757 people killed.

More than 121,000 drug suspects have been detained since 2006, according to the document. It gave no figure for how many of those had been convicted.

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