Mexico authorities announced Monday that they arrested long-sought, alleged drug lord Edgar Valdez Villarreal, aka “La Barbie,” outside Mexico City.

Valdez, who was born in Texas, is considered to be one of the most powerful drug lords in the region. He is believed to be behind the cocaine supplies that get into the American market.

Alejandro Poire, the Mexican government’s security spokesman, said, “This capture constitutes a blow of great impact against organized crime.”

Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced the news on his Twitter account, saying “Valdez is one of the most-wanted criminals in Mexico and abroad” and as the president, he and the government will continue their operations to abolish the trafficking gang.

Valdez got the nickname “La Barbie” due to his fair complexion. He is the third major drug trafficker brought down by Mexico officials in the past eight months. The two others were suspected Sinaloa Cartel leader Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel, who was killed in July by the military, and Arturo Beltran Leyva, who was killed in December by the Mexican marines.

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