GUNMEN KILL 4 DURING THEFT AT MEXICAN LAB

MEXICO CITY - Gunmen raided a pharmaceutical laboratory in Mexico's
capital early Monday, killing four guards and stealing about a ton of
ephedrine, a key ingredient in making methamphetamine, officials said.

The guards at Medix Laboratories were shot after being tied up, said
Bernardo Batiz, Mexico City's district attorney. A fifth guard was
wounded but survived.

Batiz told reporters that the gunmen stole 40 containers, each
holding 55 pounds of ephedrine.

"It's very probable this was the work of groups dedicated to selling
drugs," Batiz said.

Investigators say so-called super labs throughout Mexico produce
large amounts of methamphetamine that are then smuggled into
California and other parts of the U.S. for sale on the street.