Updated

Mexican authorities have finally served notice to vigilantes fighting a drug cartel in western Michoacan state that their illegal tactics will no longer be allowed.

The warning comes after months of the government tolerating the thousands of heavily armed civilians breaking down doors and taking over towns to oust the Knights Templar drug cartel.

A federal official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said on condition of anonymity Friday that the government has reached a turning point, and will not tolerate the armed raids by vigilantes seeking to divide up cartel properties.

The comments come one day after a top leader of the "self-defense" movement was charged in the murder of two members of a rival vigilante faction, and two days after 28 vigilantes were arrested for trying to take horses from a cartel leader's ranch.