Former Mexican public security chief Genaro Garcia Luna has been sentenced to more than 38 years in prison and fined $2 million in a US court for enabling drug traffickers. The sentencing followed a four-week trial in which Garcia Luna was found guilty of engaging in criminal activities, conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally, and making false statements. Prosecutors accused him of using his office to protect Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, resulting in the deaths of many US and Mexican citizens.
Garcia Luna, known as Mexico’s “drug czar,” served as the country’s top security official from 2006 to 2012 under President Felipe Calderon’s administration. He was hailed as a key ally in the US’s fight against drug traffickers and was considered the architect of the deadly war on cartels. His defence lawyers claimed that the charges against him were based on lies from criminals seeking sentencing breaks and retaliation for his efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The US government arrested Garcia Luna in 2019 on charges of engaging in a drug-trafficking conspiracy and making false statements. Prosecutors alleged that he provided intelligence to the Sinaloa cartel in exchange for money, including information on rival cartels and facilitating the safe passage of drugs. Witnesses described the violence fueled by drug trafficking, including cartel killings, kidnappings, and police officers being slaughtered. Testimonies revealed payoffs to Garcia Luna from the cartel and extravagant purchases funded by bribes.
Ahead of his sentencing, prosecutors sought a life sentence for Garcia Luna, while defence lawyers argued for a maximum of 20 years in prison. They claimed that Garcia Luna and his family have faced public attacks and lost everything he worked for, including his reputation and assets. The case has had political ramifications on both sides of the border, with allegations of former President Calderon seeking to shield a cartel kingpin against a rival and calls for investigations into US officials who worked with Garcia Luna during Calderon’s administration.
The sentencing of Garcia Luna in a New York federal court marks a critical step in upholding justice and the rule of law, according to US Attorney Breon Peace. He stated that Garcia Luna’s betrayal of the public trust resulted in the importation of large quantities of lethal narcotics and unleashed violence in both the US and Mexico. His actions were said to have facilitated the deaths of thousands of people and contributed to drug-related crimes. The trial featured testimonies from former smugglers and officials detailing the bribes and corruption involved in Garcia Luna’s dealings with drug traffickers.
