Mexican drug cartel leader heading to U.S.

MEXICO CITY, June 25 (UPI) -- Mexico agreed Wednesday to extradite a leading drug kingpin to the United States where he faces trafficking charges, officials said.

Benjamin Arellano Felix also faces charges of money laundering and organized crime, El Universal reported online.

Arellano Felix allegedly ran a highly regimented drug cartel along the Mexican-U.S. border before he was arrested in 2002.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent thousands of troops to the border area to help combat the violence associated with drug trafficking.