Former Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna has been sentenced to over 38 years in prison by a New York court for his collaboration with the Sinaloa cartel, led by notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This sentencing follows his conviction in February, where a jury found him guilty of accepting millions in bribes to protect the cartel’s extensive drug trafficking operations over a span of more than a decade.
In addition to the lengthy prison sentence, the judge imposed a $2 million fine. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace remarked that García Luna will spend nearly 40 years behind bars for his pivotal role in enabling narcotrafficking, emphasizing the detrimental impact of his actions on both sides of the border. Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram condemned García Luna for failing to safeguard the citizens of Mexico during his tenure.
García Luna held the position of Mexico’s top law enforcement official from 2006 to 2012 under President Felipe Calderón, a period marked by an intensified crackdown on drug cartels. He was arrested in Dallas, Texas, in 2019. His defense claimed that he was a target of revenge from criminals he had helped incarcerate with U.S. cooperation. Notably, the same judge sentenced “El Chapo” to life imprisonment in 2019, underscoring the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.
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