MEXICO POLICE SEIZE DRUG-LINKED CANCUN BUILDINGS

MEXICO CITY, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Mexican police seized four hotels, 22 houses
and other buildings suspected of links with the illegal drug trade in the
Caribbean resort town of Cancun, prosecutors said late on Monday.

The Attorney General's Office (PGR) said it uncovered evidence of money
laundering as part of its "sealing-off plan" in the Yucatan peninsula,
undertaken with the Mexican Navy, Defence, Finance and Communications
Ministries.

"Intelligence has been obtained ... which has been apt and sufficient to
identify property related with money laundering activities, probably linked
to drag trafficking," the statement said.

The PGR said police also seized a security firm, two restaurants, two
offices, a warehouse and three plots of land.

Experts say the Yucatan peninsula has become an increasingly important
trans-shipment point for Colombian cocaine on its way to the United States
since narcotics agents cracked down on smuggling across the 2,000-mile
(3,200- km) Mexico-U.S. border.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski