MEXICO CITY (chinaview) -- The United States praised Mexico for its efforts in fighting drug trafficking and violence, as the Central American country handed over drug kingpin Rafael Arellano Felix to Texas police on Saturday.

"I want to be the first to recognize that the administration of President Vicente Fox has been very thorough regarding the extradition," said Anthony Garza, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, in a statement.

Garza described Saturday's extradition as "another significant step in U.S.-Mexico cooperation, with respect to the continuing battle on drugs and violence".

Felix had served a jail sentence in Mexico before being extradited.

On Friday, the United States warned its citizens of escalated violence related to drug trafficking along the U.S.-Mexican borders.