The number of deaths in Mexico's vicious four-year drug gang war has soared passed 30,000, with 12,456 fatalities this year alone.

"The death toll we have up until November 30 is 30,196 since the beginning of the government (of President Felipe Calderon)," said Attorney General Arturo Chavez, noting that violence has especially flared in 2010.

Calderon launched a massive military crackdown on the cartels in December 2006, and since then there has been an escalating cycle of violence both between gangs fighting each other -- largely for drug trafficking routes into the United States -- and security forces attempting to battle them.

At least 10 of the 24 most wanted cartel leaders have been killed or captured in 2010, Chavez said.

The new figures however showed a 6.8-per cent increase in murders in the last four months, since authorities in August reported a total toll of over 28,000.