MEXICO HAILS ARREST OF TRAFFICKER

Officials: Leader's Tijuana Cartel Moved Up To 40% Of Cocaine In U.S.

MEXICO CITY - Soldiers captured the leader of Mexico's most violent
drug cartel early Saturday, putting ``out of business'' the
organization believed responsible for smuggling as much as 40 percent
of all cocaine consumed in the United States, Mexican officials said.

Benjamin Arellano Felix, 49, was described by a U.S. law enforcement
officer as the chief executive officer of the cartel, which officials
say has killed more than 300 rivals, police officers, judges and
politicians.

Arellano Felix was the most-wanted drug trafficker in the United
States and Mexico, a man with the legendary status of gangsters such
as Al Capone.

He was captured at 1 a.m. in a house in Puebla, 65 miles south of the
capital, Defense Secretary Ricardo Clemente Vega and Attorney General
Rafael Macedo de la Concha announced. No shots were fired.

The officials also confirmed the death of Ramon Arellano Felix, 37,
one of Benjamin Arellano Felix's five brothers and the cartel's
enforcer. Named on the FBI's 10-most-wanted list, Ramon Arellano
Felix is believed to have been killed last month by a rival.

The cartel ``is totally out of business,'' Macedo said.

Mexican President Vicente Fox said the arrest proved that his
government is ``working with seriousness'' in cracking down on the
drug trade.

In Washington, Drug Enforcement administrator Asa Hutchinson said the
United States wants Arellano Felix extradited to face drug and
money-laundering charges in California. Friday, 22 people suspected of
working for or with the cartel in the United States were arrested in
Denver, San Diego and Minneapolis.

The arrest of one brother and the apparent death of another represent
``one of the biggest victories Mexico has seen for law over
lawlessness,'' Hutchinson said.

The Arellano Felix brothers began trafficking drugs more than two
decades ago, moving marijuana grown in mountains near the Pacific
Coast resort city of Mazatlan. They later partnered with Colombian
cocaine traffickers and grew to control the largest portion of the
illicit trade into the United States.

Hard numbers are impossible to come by, but the DEA estimates that the
Tijuana cartel moved anywhere from one-third to 40 percent of the
cocaine used in the United States.

``Benjamin is the CEO,'' said a U.S. law enforcement official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity. ``These guys have lasted a long time.
They rule by terror. They pay a hefty sum in bribes. We feel,
conservatively, that they probably give out $75 million annually in
bribes.''

Benjamin Arellano Felix is the second brother in custody. Francisco
Arellano Felix is serving time for drug and weapons charges.