In one of the stranger chapters of Mexico's drug war, townsfolk have kidnapped the mother of an alleged drug gang boss to demand the release of their loved ones.

The government of the southern state of Guerrero said Tuesday it dispatched 220 soldiers and police in hopes of defusing the situation in the town of Totolapan.

Totolapan has been essentially controlled for years by a drug gang boss known as "El Tequilero."

His gang in recent months has been fighting turf battles with other cartels.

The gang members known as "tequileros" kidnapped about a dozen Totolapan inhabitants who they apparently suspect of supporting rivals.

A group of armed townspeople on Monday posted a video saying they had his mother and would exchange her for their loved ones.