Alleged drug kingpin Arellano-Felix held

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Javier Arellano-Felix, alleged leader of one of Mexico's most feared drug cartels, waived his right to a detention hearing in a San Diego courtroom Monday.

U.S. drug agents and Coast Guard personnel captured Arellano-Felix, 37, a week ago while he was deep-sea fishing in international waters off the coast of Cabo San Lucus south of San Diego.

He appeared in San Diego federal court wearing a prison-issued orange jump-suit. He quietly answered "Si" when U.S. District Judge Larry Burns asked him if he was agreeing to waive his detention hearing and remain in custody without bail during his case, the San Diego Union-Tribune said.

Arellano-Felix could face the death penalty in his case, if convicted.

Arellano-Felix and 11 other high-ranking member of the Mexican cartel were originally indicted in San Diego in 2003 on charges of importing and distributing drugs into the U.S. Other charges include racketeering activity, conspiring to import and distribute cocaine and marijuana and money laundering.

The dreaded Tijuana-based Arellano-Felix organization reputedly controlled a massive smuggling operation that was responsible for rampant corruption and a long string of murders that included numerous Mexican police officers and prosecutors.