Mexico sends 10 drug defendants to U.S.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Ten major drug defendants were extradited from Mexico to the United States Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department said.

The defendants who arrived in Texas Wednesday are accused of being linked to some of the most notorious Mexican drug trafficking organizations, including the Gulf Cartel, the Arellano Felix Organization and the Sinaloa Cartel, the department said in a news release.

The defendants will face criminal proceedings in the Southern District of Texas, the Southern District of California, the Central District of California and the Northern District of Georgia.

"The courageous action of the Mexican government in extraditing these 10 defendants -- each of whom is accused of major drug offenses or other serious federal felonies -- shows the unrelenting commitment of Mexican President (Felipe) Calderon to break the power of the Mexican drug cartels," U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey said.

The extradition of nine Mexicans and one Colombian brings the total number of extraditions from Mexico to the United States to 95 for 2008, the department said.

DEA Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart said extradition was a powerful tool in battling drug cartels.

"The cartels fear not only the U.S. justice system, but the strength of our partnership with ... the Mexican government in this fight," Leonhart said.