At least eight people have died in a wave of drug-related violence in the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco, prosecutors said

The victims - seven men and a woman - were killed in different incidents across the port city, one of Mexico's top tourist destinations, a Guerrero state Attorney General's Office spokesman said. The bullet-riddled bodies of four men were found in the trunk of a car abandoned in Los Organos, a town on the outskirts of Acapulco, the AG's office spokesman said. Several gunmen engaged Federal Police officers in a shootout. One of the gunmen was killed and four others were arrested, the AG's office spokesman said. A man in his 30s was gunned down later in the day in Acapulco's El Cayaco neighborhood and the bodies of an unidentified man and woman were discovered in Las Cruces, a neighborhood at the entrance to the port city, the AG's office said. The La Barredora drug gang and the Cartel Independiente de Acapulco have been fighting for control of the resort city for more than a year. The two gangs were originally part of the criminal organization run by Edgar Valdez Villarreal, the AG's office said. Valdez Villarreal, known as "La Barbie," was arrested by the Federal Police on Aug. 30, 2010. At least 10 people - nine men and a woman - were murdered recently in Acapulco, with some of the victims being dismembered. Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre Rivero launched a security operation in 2011 with the support of the federal government to step up security in areas frequented by foreign and domestic tourists. "Operation Safe Guerrero" was launched on Oct. 6, 2011, in an effort to reduce the soaring crime rate in the state. Acapulco, a favorite among Mexican and foreign tourists for decades, has lost business to other destinations due to the violence. President Felipe Calderon made an appearance in the Pacific resort city recently to officially launch a new crime-fighting plan. The goal of the "Todos por Acapulco" program, which is based on an initiative implemented in the violent border city of Ciudad Juarez, is to end drug-related violence and promote development in the resort city.