MEXICO CITY, January 8 (RIA Novosti) – Police in Honduras have seized a gold-plated AK-47 assault rifle studded with diamonds during a raid on a ranch reportedly owned by local drug traffickers, local media reported.

According to police the rifle has an exclusive design and a fine carving, and could be worth at least $50,000.

Police also said an engraving on the weapon links it to a local drug gang that is allegedly connected to Mexico's Zetas cartel.

During the raid on the ranch located about 300 km from the capital, Tegucigalpa, police also found over 30 other weapons, bullet-proof vests and 11 cars.

Honduras, which has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world, is a major conduit of cocaine-smuggling from South America to the United States.