TIJUANA, Mexico – Eight Mexican soldiers have been arrested for transporting nearly a ton of cocaine near the border city of Tijuana.

Gen. Alfonso Duarte says the eight had been collaborating with a group of civilians to traffic drugs.

The soldiers were arrested last week at a military checkpoint south of Tijuana, which is across the border from San Diego.

Duarte confirmed the arrests Thursday but declined to identify the soldiers or give their ranks.

While corruption is widespread among Mexican police, the military has rarely been accused of colluding with drug cartels. Tens of thousands of soldiers are fighting drug traffickers across the country.