Mexican federal police captured Knights Templar drug cartel leader Servando Gomez on Friday, taking down one of the country's most wanted fugitives, a federal official told AFP.

Gomez, alias "La Tuta," was detained without a shot being fired in Morelia, capital of the western state of Michoacan, his gang's home region, a National Security Commission official said.

With his arrest, the authorities have now taken down the four top leaders of the cartel, dealing a huge blow to the criminal organization that has tormented the agricultural and mining state.

Gomez, 49, is believed to have become the de facto boss after the group's top leader, Nazario "El Chayo" Moreno, was killed by marines on March 9.

Another honcho, Enrique "Kike" Plancarte, was killed by troops in late March. His uncle, Dionisio Plancarte, who was also a key leader of the gang, was detained in January.