Around 100 Mexico City police on Friday raided homes in the city's neighborhood known for its high crime rates, searching for guns, drugs and pirated goods.

After searching 73 of the 144 apartments in the La Fortaleza section of Tepito, the police found 220,000 CDs and DVDs of illegal music and videos, seven piracy labs, 150,000 DVD and CD covers and 300 DVD burners.

Mexico City authorities covered a 5,000-sq. meter area in the center of the city on Wednesday, where they found a number of drug dens and dealers.

Residents of La Fortaleza said that the seizures were arbitrary and they were unhappy of their treatment by the authorities. They added that they would complain to the city's Human Rights Commission.

According to police, there are at least 20 so-called fortresses in Tepito, where gangsters conduct illegal activities using a market filled with hawkers to disguise themselves.

The Mexico City government has offered a monthly stipend of 185 U.S. dollars for residents to rent shops in another market. But the offer has been rejected.

Protesting Tepito residents blocked streets in the center of the city on Friday, the second day of their protests.

Source: Xinhua