Mexico extradites 'drug kingpin' Sergio Villarreal Published duration 23 May 2012

image caption Sergio Villarreal was arrested in an upscale area of Puebla in September 2010

Mexico has extradited a suspected drug lord to the United States.

Sergio Villarreal, known as El Grande (Big One) because of his height, is facing charges of drug trafficking and money laundering in a court in Texas.

Police arrested Mr Villarreal in a raid east of Mexico City two years ago.

He is alleged to have been the top lieutenant in the once-powerful Beltran Leyva drug cartel, accused of smuggling large quantities of cocaine, marijuana and heroin to the US.

A former policeman, Mr Villarreal is alleged to have worked for a number of criminal organizations before joining the drugs cartel led by Arturo Beltran Leyva.

Mr Beltran Leyva was shot and killed by the Mexican navy in December 2009, sparking a brutal fight for control of the cartel.

His brother Hector took over the leadership of the cartel.