Mexico’s anti-drug czar convicted of drug trafficking in the US

A former Mexican security force official who was in charge of fighting drug trafficking in the country was found guilty Tuesday of taking bribes from the powerful Sinaloa cartel.

Federal prosecutors for the New York district of Brooklyn testified that Genaro García Luna accepted millions of dollars in bribes from the criminal group once led by Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, imprisoned in the United States, in exchange for protection against arrest, safe-conduct to traffic cocaine shipments and receive leads on police operations.

The jury found García Luna guilty of the five charges against him, including accusations of being a member of the criminal group and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

García Luna is one of the highest-ranking Mexican officials accused of having ties to drug trafficking. He directed the Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) of Mexico from 2001 to 2005 and was Secretary of Public Security from 2006.

The former official also collaborated closely with US counternarcotics and intelligence agencies in the framework of former President Felipe Calderón’s offensive against the cartels.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel Youtube and activate notifications, or follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.