Mexico captures fugitive governor

Villanueva went missing before his term of office expired

By Peter Greste in Mexico City

Police in Mexico have arrested one of the country's most wanted fugitives - the former governor of the southern state of Quintana Roo, after he spent more than two years on the run.

The ex-governor, Mario Villanueva, is accused of helping drug smuggling cartels to land huge quantities of cocaine in the state during his six-year term of office.

Fox is expected to use the case to show his tough stance on drugs

The Mexican attorney general said the arrest followed intense work between the Mexican authorities and international law enforcement agencies.

When Mario Villanueva disappeared just days before his term of office was due to come to an end - along with his immunity from prosecution - the search for him spread out across Central America.

He was accused of using his power as governor in Quintana Roo to protect some of Mexico's biggest drugs cartels as they landed tonnes of Colombian cocaine in his backyard.

Embarrassment to authorities

Mr Villanueva was easily the highest official ever to be accused of drug trafficking while in office and, as such, he became both a huge embarrassment to the authorities and one of Mexico's most wanted men.

So the last place that most people expected him to turn up was in his old neighbourhood.

According to the Attorney General Rafael Macedo, the police found the former governor with two friends driving through the Caribbean resort town of Cancun - the biggest and glitziest of the state's tourist attractions.

But according to Mr Macedo, the arrest was no accident.

He told local television it was the result of intense work and information exchanges with different international agencies, especially the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

'Political vendetta'

The ex-governor is now awaiting trial in Mexico's most secure prison.

But Mario Villanueva has denied any wrong-doing. In a video tape he sent to a national television network soon after he disappeared, the fugitive said he was the victim of a political vendetta, and that the charges had been fabricated.

Even so, the government is unlikely to be lenient with Mr Villanueva - the highest-profile arrest since Vicente Fox came to power almost a year ago.

It is expected to use the opportunity to underline its commitment to tackling drug trafficking and corruption.