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Mexico ex-official convicted of bribery in US over cartel ties – JURIST

Genaro Garcia Luna, formerly the highest-ranking law enforcement official in Mexico, was convicted Tuesday by a federal jury in New York for assisting the Sinaloa drug cartel.Garcia Luna was formerly Mexico’s Secretary of Public Security from 2006-2012, effectively controlling Mexico’s Federal Police Force. Prior to 2006, Garcia Luna had been the head of Mexico’s Federal Investigative Agency.According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Garcia Luna used his position to assist the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for millions of US dollars. Garcia Luna moved to the US in 2012 and applied for citizenship in 2018.Garcia Luna allowed the Federal Police Force to act as bodyguards for the cartel and allowed cartel members to wear police uniforms and badges. In addition, Garcia Luna facilitated the passage of drug shipments, gave the cartel notice of investigations into them, and helped the cartel attack rival drug cartels. The grand jury found Garcia guilty of the international distribution of at least 55,000 kilograms of cocaine.US Attorney Breon Peace called the verdict a “shining light for the rule of law, right over wrong, and justice over injustice for all those who have suffered as a result of [Garcia Luna’s] deplorable crimes.”