It’s not new that Mexico has a problem with drug trafficking. There is news that sheds light on the magnitude of the situation. For example, a plan to create a cross-country freight and passenger train raises questions about the viability of the project due to drug traffickers or Mayan ruins becoming inaccessible due to violence. But few news stories can give a more accurate sense of how far the drug’s power has expanded than a recent report out of New York.

News. Former Mexican Minister of Public Security Genaro García Luna, a key figure in the fight against drug trafficking, was sentenced to more than 38 years in prison in the United States for accepting a millionaire bribe from Sinaloa. cartel.

The sentence, handed down by a court in New York, is a landmark in Mexican history as it is the highest-ranking official convicted on U.S. soil. Luna, who headed the Federal Police and served in the cabinet during the government of President Felipe Calderón (2006-2012), was found guilty of protecting drug traffickers he was supposed to be fighting.

Bribery and protection. When asked what exactly Luna was doing, U.S. prosecutors presented evidence that he received millions of dollars in exchange for information about ongoing investigations against the Sinaloa cartel, logistical support for drug trafficking and sabotage of legitimate police operations in which they sought to capture cartel leaders.

Not only this. During the trial, it was revealed that Luna allowed the safe passage of large quantities of drugs into the United States, including more than a million tons of cocaine transported by planes, trains and submarines. Plus: Tests showed he had ties to influential American political figures such as former President Barack Obama, underscoring the level of reach and power he wields.

The former president is speaking. As soon as the decision was announced, all eyes turned to Felipe Calderon, who was ruling Mexico during Genaro Luna’s “job”. The former president said he respected the court’s decision, although he maintained that he never had verifiable evidence of his former secretary’s illegal activities.

Calderon defended his position, stating that fighting the cartels was one of the most difficult decisions of his life, but that he would do it again. Meanwhile, on the opposite sidewalk, there are groups of protesters in front of the court these days; some hold banners accusing Calderon of being aware of García Luna’s activities; all in a rarefied atmosphere that reflects the political tensions that gave rise to the case.

Fines and corruption. In addition to the prison sentence, United States Judge Brian Cogan fined García Luna two million dollars. During the trial, testimony was presented from former cartel members who claimed they personally bribed the former secretary with up to $6 million.

Prosecutors also detailed how García Luna attempted to corrupt other inmates at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center to overturn his guilty verdict. In this context, Cogan noted that the “past accolades” he received for his work in the fight against drugs did not excuse his crimes, describing his role in drug trafficking as “an important enabler for the cartels.”

Appeals and other cases. Despite the sentence, García Luna and his legal team announced that they would appeal the verdict, arguing that the man had lost everything: his reputation, his finances and the policies he defended during his term, “only his family remained,” his lawyer said, arguing that his conviction was based on false information provided by criminals. He suggested that it was part of the narrative.

The García Luna case served to recall another similar case in the media, but the decision was very different: the arrest of former Mexican Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos, who was arrested in 2020 for allegedly colluding with a drug cartel. In contrast to Luna’s conviction, former Mexican President López Obrador protested Cienfuegos’ arrest, accusing the DEA of fabricating evidence.

Ultimately, the charges against Cienfuegos were dropped and the man was released in Mexico.

Image | Luis Barrios, RawPixel

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