KUNMING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese police officers have been killed and three wounded in a gunfight with a group of alleged drug traffickers in the southwestern Yunnan Province, bordering Myanmar.

The clash occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Sunday in the border area of Zhina Township, Yingjiang County, Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Dehong, a spokesman with the local police said.

The officers, from Dehong Prefecture and neighboring Baoshan City, were carrying out a joint operation to arrest more than 10 suspected drug traffickers, the spokesman said.

But he provided no further details on the operation or the alleged drug traffickers.

The wounded officers were being treated at a local hospital, he said.

The incident was under investigation and a news conference would be held on Wednesday, he added.