The Army found 72 bodies on a ranch in northern Mexico late Tuesday after a clash between marine troops and suspected drug-cartel gunmen that left one marine and three suspects dead.

The bodies of 58 men and 14 women were found on the ranch in Tamaulipas state bordering the southern U.S. state of Texas. It appears to be the largest drug-cartel body dumping ground found in Mexico since an offensive was launched against drug trafficking in late 2006.

The Mexican Army said in a statement the discovery of the bodies came after troops manning a checkpoint on a highway in Tamaulipas were approached by a wounded man who said he had been attacked by drug cartel gunmen at a nearby ranch.

When the troops arrived there, the gunmen opened fire on them and tried to flee. In the ensuing shootout, one marine and three suspected gunmen were killed.

The navy seized 21 assault rifles, 6,649 cartridges of different calibers, four bullet-proof vests and four SUVs, and detained a minor, according to the statement.

"The federal government categorically condemns the barbarous acts committed by criminal organizations," the statement said, added: "Society as a whole should condemn this type of acts, which illustrate the absolute necessity to continue fighting crimes with all rigor."

More than 28,000 people have been killed in violence linked to Mexico's drug war since President Felipe Calderon launched the offensive in late 2006, according to local media.