By the BBC's David Willis

Benjamin Arellano Felix, the alleged leader of one of Latin America's most notorious drugs cartels, has made his first appearance in a courtroom at Mexico's top security La Palma prison.

He was arrested by special forces on Saturday in the city of Puebla, 100km (60 miles) south-east of Mexico City.

Arellano was arrested on Saturday

US officials are already pressing for his extradition to America, where he and his brother have long been among the country's most wanted men.

President George W Bush telephoned Mexican President Vicente Fox to congratulate him on the arrest.

US State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, has called the Arellano Felix organisation one of the most violent and brutal cartels in the world.

Brother dead

When Mr Arellano Felix appeared before a closed courtroom on Monday, he was charged with bribery, drug smuggling and criminal association.

The Arellano Felix gang used a tunnel to bring drugs into the US

His lawyers were granted an adjournment until Friday, when he is expected to enter a plea.

Already America is pressing for his extradition, although the US ambassador to Mexico, Jeffrey Davidow, said he thought that Mr Arellano Felix would first have to face serious charges in Mexico.

Following his capture by Mexican troops, Benjamin Arellano Felix confirmed that his brother Ramon, who was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, died last month in a shoot-out with the police.

US relief

As FBI wanted posters were being pulled down at Californian border crossings, US agents hailed the arrest as a major victory in the war against the cross-border trafficking of Colombian cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

Donald Thornhill of the US Drug Enforcement Agency, who has been tracking the brothers since the 1980s, described them as the glue which kept the organisation together.

He estimated the gang was responsible for up to 30% of the drugs smuggled in to the United States.

It is thought the brothers used a tunnel six metres (20 feet) under the border to get their supplies in.

They also used bribes and, when they did not work, brutality.

Nobody expects their downfall and demise to halt the flow of drugs across the border.

There is already some concern that their absence could prompt a battle for control over the lucrative Californian drugs corridor.