Mexico captures 19 suspected drug gang planes

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CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Mexican soldiers have seized 19 light planes from a hangar near the U.S. border believed to be used by drug smuggling gangs, the army and Mexican media said on Thursday.

The Cessnas were found Monday in a hangar near a small airstrip in the northern state of Sonora bordering Arizona and were impounded after the owner was unable to provide flying permits and registration documents, the defense ministry said.

Mexican media said two men at the airstrip were arrested on suspicion the planes belonged to drug traffickers from the neighboring Pacific state of Sinaloa, led by Mexico's most-wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman

The defense ministry spokesman declined to comment.