MEXICO CITY – Mexican authorities have detained seven members of a third-division football team for alleged ties to drug traffickers.

The Raccoons members were detained in Mexico City on Wednesday at the Aguilas del America training facility after a match against a local team, said a spokesperson with the federal Attorney General's Office who asked not to be identified because of restrictions on speaking publicly about the case.

The person said the group was being questioned Thursday but did not know whether they were players or other team officials.

Raccoons are based in Michoacan, one of the most violent states in Mexico where drug traffickers are fighting a bloody turf battle. Last month, grenade attacks there killed eight people during an Independence Day celebration.