Mexican authorities say security forces have killed 22 suspected drug traffickers in counter-drug operations in three different Mexican states. The drug traffickers were killed on Wednesday as the Mexican Navy announced it was taking over security in the port of Veracruz, which has been the subject of violence by the Zetas drug cartel. The Zetas, considered by the US Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel in Mexico, is responsible for kidnappings and killings across Mexico and also in Guatemala in recent years. According to army commander Carlos Aguilar, eight suspected drug traffickers were killed in a shootout with troops in Panuco, in the eastern state of Veracruz. Aguilar added that two more were killed in the town of Coatzintla of the same state during a crackdown on drug cartels. In the Northwestern state of Sinaloa, six criminals were also killed in army and police operations that rescued a kidnapped businessman and several workers in the towns of Guasave and Ahome. The state Public Security office of the western state of Jalisco also reported six gunmen having been killed in a clash with police near the town of Milpillas. Drug violence has killed more than 45,000 people in Mexico over the past five years since President Felipe Calderon deployed security forces to fight drug cartels.