Latin America & Caribbean
22 June 2011 Last updated at 01:53 GMT
Mr Calderon described the capture as a great blow to organised crime.
La Familia has a reputation for violence but claims to protect local communities and promote family values.
Mexico's security spokesman Alejandro Poire said the arrest had "destroyed the chain of command" of the cartel.
The Mexican Attorney General's Office said Mr Mendez Vargas was "responsible for the transfer and sale of cocaine, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine in various states of Mexico and the US".
International links
A previous leader of La Familia, Nazario Moreno, was killed by security forces in December 2010.
Meanwhile, police in Colombia have arrested three men suspected of being senior figures in the international drugs trade.
Julian Hernando Dias Porras, also known as "The Horseman", Orlando Rodriguez Castrillon, aka "The Indian", and Argemiro Sierra Pastrana, whose alias is the "Grey-Haired One", are wanted on charges of trafficking drugs from Colombia across most of Latin America, and to the US and Europe.
The Colombian authorities said they would be extradited to Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina respectively.
The government had offered $2.5m reward for Mendez Vargas's capture
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has congratulated police on the capture of the alleged leader of one the country's top drug gangs, the La Familia cartel.
Police arrested Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, also known as "The Monkey", in the central city of Aguascalientes.Mr Calderon described the capture as a great blow to organised crime.
La Familia has a reputation for violence but claims to protect local communities and promote family values.
Mexico's security spokesman Alejandro Poire said the arrest had "destroyed the chain of command" of the cartel.
The Mexican Attorney General's Office said Mr Mendez Vargas was "responsible for the transfer and sale of cocaine, marijuana, crystal methamphetamine in various states of Mexico and the US".
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La Familia is a drug cartel like no other. By spreading a pseudo-religious message and engaging in some charity work, the gang has managed to gain some support among the local population in its home state of Michoacan.
The cartel has also managed to expand its business from its stronghold on the Pacific Coast to other areas of Mexico.
But the arrest of Mr Mendez Vargas could signal a turning point for the powerful group.
The Mexican authorities say it is on the brink of collapse after the arrest of several leaders. They say Mr Mendez Vargas' arrest constitutes "the biggest blow" to La Familia so far.
But sceptics say the resulting power vacuum could lead to more bloodshed, as rival gangs fight for control of the lucrative drugs business and the trafficking routes towards the United States.
Analysis
The cartel has also managed to expand its business from its stronghold on the Pacific Coast to other areas of Mexico.
But the arrest of Mr Mendez Vargas could signal a turning point for the powerful group.
The Mexican authorities say it is on the brink of collapse after the arrest of several leaders. They say Mr Mendez Vargas' arrest constitutes "the biggest blow" to La Familia so far.
But sceptics say the resulting power vacuum could lead to more bloodshed, as rival gangs fight for control of the lucrative drugs business and the trafficking routes towards the United States.
Continue reading the main story
He is also accused of having masterminded the kidnappings and killings of rival gang members.
The government had offered a $2.5m reward for information leading to his capture.He is also accused of having masterminded the kidnappings and killings of rival gang members.
International links
A previous leader of La Familia, Nazario Moreno, was killed by security forces in December 2010.
Meanwhile, police in Colombia have arrested three men suspected of being senior figures in the international drugs trade.
Julian Hernando Dias Porras, also known as "The Horseman", Orlando Rodriguez Castrillon, aka "The Indian", and Argemiro Sierra Pastrana, whose alias is the "Grey-Haired One", are wanted on charges of trafficking drugs from Colombia across most of Latin America, and to the US and Europe.
The Colombian authorities said they would be extradited to Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina respectively.
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