Washington, Jul 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti): One of the 15 most wanted fugitives of the US Marshals Service's has been held in the Mexican sea resort of Cancun, having remained almost 24 years on the run, the service said.

Vincent Legrend Walters, 45, was taken into custody Friday in a joint operation by the US Marshals Service's Mexico city foreign field office and Mexican law enforcement authorities. He has been transferred to Mexico City to await extradition to the US.

Walters, who faces murder, drugs and weapon possession charges in San Diego, resided in Cancun under assumed identity of Oscar Rivera and worked at the Cancun International Airport, the US Marshal's Service said.

He is wanted for the kidnapping and murder of Christina Reyes, who was killed in September 1988.

"Thanks to the hard work of our deputy US Marshals, local law enforcement and Mexican law enforcement partners, we were able to bring Walters in to face the consequences for his laundry list of accused crimes," said David Harlow, assistant director of the US Marshals Investigative Operations Division.

Walters and his brother, Martin, took three people hostage in a drug trafficking deal that went bad. The brothers later released two hostages. But Reyes died when she was gagged with a chemically saturated rag which killed her almost instantaneously.

Martin Walters was caught soon after the crime and is already serving 25 years to life in prison.

The US Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted Fugitives Programme was established in 1983 to prioritise the investigation and apprehension of high-profile offenders who are considered to be some of the country's most dangerous fugitives.