TIJUANA, Mexico, March 31 (Reuters) - Mexican police arrested suspected drug kingpin Victor Magno Escobar in Tijuana on Saturday, the first major detention since Mexico sent troops to the border city at the start of the year.

Considered a leader of the Tijuana cartel that dominates drug smuggling along California's border with Mexico, Escobar was arrested after police surprised a safe house in the city early on Saturday morning, a police spokesman said.

Police said 29-year-old Escobar, known by his nickname "El Pareja" or partner, was caught along with eight other men, including three police officers, and around 30 weapons including assault weapons and handguns.

Escobar was flown to Mexico City to face charges, police said.

"Escobar was chief assassin for, and a leader of, the Tijuana cartel," said the police spokesman, who declined to be identified.

U.S. officials say the drug gang, also known as the Arellano-Felix cartel, has been seriously weakened since the captures and killings of five of the Arellano-Felix brothers since 2002.

But Mexico's attorney general's office said in January the cartel was regrouping quickly under new leadership because drug trafficking remains very lucrative and younger gang members take charge.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent thousands of troops into Tijuana in January as part of a nationwide strategy to try to crush drug gangs, disarming corrupt police and seizing narcotics.

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