Townspeople in Mexico who were allegedly paid by a criminal group have burned cars and trucks to block a police raid on a fuel-theft gang.

The blockade occurred Monday in the town of Santa Rosa de Lima, in the north-central state of Guanajuato.

Santa Rosa is home to a heavily armed gang that drills illegal taps into government pipelines. Police found pay envelopes with the gang's stamp and a legend that read: "Relatives should be prepared to protest when asked to do so."

Guanajuato state prosecutors say police finally got into the town, seized guns and drugs and freed six kidnap victims.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has launched an offensive against fuel theft. He said Tuesday it's not the first time gangs have paid residents to protest.