Mexican authorities told Xinhua Monday they have captured "La Barbie" Edgar Valdez Villarreal, a U.S.-born criminal with a long career leading the nation's drug cartels.

Federal police officers stand in formation after their arrival at Mariano Escobedo international airport in Apodaca, neighbouring Monterrey August 26, 2010. About 150 police officers arrived on Thursday to take part in an operation to curb drug-related violence, according to local media. [Xinhua]

An official with the Attorney General's Office (PGR) confirmed the arrest, but said she was not authorized to give further details.

Mexican newspapers reported Valdez was arrested by federal police close to the border between southern Mexican states Morelos and Guerrero.

Valdez had worked for the Sinaloa Cartel and its breakaway group the Beltrn Leyva cartel, which was dismantled in a recent police operation.

He is also wanted by a federal court in southern U.S. city Atlanta for smuggling thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. soil between 2004 and 2006.

Valdez's main crime partner, Jose Gerardo Alvarez, alias El Indio, was captured in April.

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