Former Mexican public security chief Genaro Garcia Luna was sentenced in a US federal court to more than 38 years in prison and a $2 million fine for his role in enabling drug traffickers during his time in office. The sentencing came after a four-week trial where Garcia Luna was found guilty of engaging in a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, and making false statements. Prosecutors accused him of protecting Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and contributing to the deaths of thousands of US and Mexican citizens.
Garcia Luna, also known as Mexico’s ‘super-cop’, served as the country’s top security official from 2006 to 2012 under former President Felipe Calderon. He was considered the architect of Calderon’s war on cartels and was praised by the US as a key ally in the fight against drug traffickers. However, he was later arrested in the US in 2019 on charges of making false statements and engaging in drug trafficking conspiracy. Images of Garcia Luna with former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were presented during his trial.
During the trial, witnesses testified about the horrific violence fueled by drug trafficking, including cartel killings, police officers being slaughtered, and rivals being dismembered. Prosecutors alleged that Garcia Luna accepted millions of dollars in exchange for providing intelligence to the Sinaloa cartel, tipping them off about investigations and raids, and sabotaging legitimate police operations. Testimony revealed that cartel members pooled millions of dollars to pay for his protection, and former officials described extravagant spending funded by bribes, such as a private zoo with exotic animals.
The US government sought a life sentence for Garcia Luna, while his defense lawyers argued for no more than 20 years in prison. In their plea for leniency, his lawyers mentioned the public attacks and loss of reputation Garcia Luna and his family have faced during his nearly five years in prison. The case has had political ramifications, with implications for both sides of the border. Claims were made during the trial that Calderon may have sought to shield cartel kingpin El Chapo Guzman against a rival, which Calderon denied as an “absurd” and “absolute lie”. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador suggested that the US should investigate its own officials who worked with Garcia Luna during Calderon’s administration.
In the end, Garcia Luna was sentenced for his crimes, which prosecutors described as betrayal of the people of Mexico and the United States. Despite his denial of the allegations, the court found him guilty based on testimony from witnesses who detailed his involvement in protecting drug traffickers and enabling their operations. The sentencing marked a significant step in upholding justice and the rule of law, according to United States Attorney Breon Peace. The case shed light on the impact of corruption and collusion between public officials and criminal organizations, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in law enforcement and security institutions.
