Mexico City, September 22 (teleSUR-RHC)-- One of Mexico's most ruthless and infamous female assassins has been detained by federal police in Baja California while attempting to board a flight to Culiacan, Sinaloa, which is the cradle to about 80 percent of Mexican drug traffickers.

Melissa Margarita Calderon, better known by her nickname “La China”, was arrested at Los Cabos International Airport, accused of being directly and indirectly responsible for more than 150 violent crimes, including nine homicides she allegedly committed personally.

La China's career as an assassin began years ago when she date a member of Los Damaso, a heavily armed and well trained group of people that work under the orders of Los Antrax, the enforcement cell of the Sinaloa cartel of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. 

The Baja California Sur government secretary general, Alvaro de la Peña, told Televisa, that Calderon was wanted for various federal crimes, but specifically noted that statewide she was sought after for a homicide in La Paz in January. 

"Thanks to the exchange of intelligence and information between all the integrated agencies in the state we were able to detain her in a totally clean manner, without a shot being fired," he told Fox News.

According news outlet mySA (My San Antonio, Texas), Mike Vigil, former DEA chief of international operations, explained that the Damaso cell is formed by about 1,500 members who have received training in military tactics and are responsible for special operations within Los Antrax.

La China was in charge of a sub-unit formed by some 50 special forces.