About 400 police officers raided a christening party for a baby born to a member of one of Mexico’s feared drug cartels, arresting several suspected gangsters and seizing a formidable arsenal.

The raid was on the Familia Michoacana, a drug cartel named by the US this week as a major player in the international narcotics trade. Police arrested 44 alleged members of the group at a hotel party after the church service in Morelia, the capital of the western state of Michoacán.

Among those detained was Rafael Cedeño Hernández, the gang’s second in command, who is said to be responsible for transporting drugs from Central America and expanding its empire in the state of Guerrero and Acapulco, its largest city. He was at the celebration to see his grandson christened.

Rodrigo Esparza, a special forces commander, said that the Michoacana gang controlled the movement of cocaine from Central America and of ephedrine, a drug similar to amphetamine, from Asia and Europe.

He added that police seized three R15 rifles, a Kalashnikov, five grenades, six pistols, ammunition and four bags containing marijuana and cocaine.

The Familia operates as a paramilitary organisation, claiming to offer protection to civilians while the authorities are struggling to contain the gangs.

In the latest attack about 20 gunmen ambushed a prisoner transfer convoy in western Mexico on Saturday, killing eight officers in a failed attempt to free a high-ranking cartel member. Police called it a well- planned attack intended to free Jerónimo Gámez, the cousin of Arturo Beltrán Leyva, the reputed leader of one of the most powerful cartels. An investigation is under way into how the gang knew that Gámez was being transferred.

Cardinal Héctor González Martinez, the Archbishop of Durango, announced the suspected whereabouts of one of the most wanted drugs barons, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo. He spoke out after complaining that priests had been threatened by gang members.

Forbes magazine caused a stir this year when it included El Chapo on its list of billionaires, claiming he was worth $1 billion (£680 million).

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