Mexican authorities have confiscated a luxury beach resort near the US border that belonged to one of the country's most violent and powerful drug cartels.
The Mexican Attorney General's Office said the Oasis Beach Resort near Tijuana, which borders the US state of California, belonged to Mr Manuel Aguirre, a member of the Tijuana cartel run by the Arellano Felix brothers.
The Attorney General's Office (PGR) said it confiscated the resort over the weekend and would assume its operations rather than close it.
"In order not to close a source of employment in consideration of several families who work in the tourist complex. . . the Attorney General's Office will run this property," a PGR statement said.
Over the weekend Mexican soldiers posted at jacuzzis, beach entries and the poolsides startled tourists at the resort, who were told the armed men were protecting a distinguished visitor.
But by Monday not a tourist could be found at the Oasis beaches, swimming pools or restaurants.
Mr Adan Bentacur Beltran, in charge of the property for the PGR, said the government was studying the resort's finances but would not comment on the drug ties, upon arriving at the Oasis.
Press reports said Mr Aguirre, alias "El Caballo" (The Horse), was a member of the cartel run by the three Arellano Felix brothers, each of whom has at least a $1 million bounty on his head.
Reforma newspaper showed a picture of the neon-lit resort built in Moorish style on the Pacific Ocean, dotted with palm trees.