New drug-related charges for Mexico’s former security minister
Cartoon by Chavo del Toro
Appearing in federal court in New York on Oct. 8, Mexico’s former security minister, Genaro Garcia Luna, pleaded not guilty to new criminal charges tying him to the Sinaloa drug cartel under Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
Garcia already faces charges of “offenses involving the importation and the distribution of massive quantities of dangerous drugs into the United States,” yet prosecutors’ additional charges include: engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in violation of narcotics laws, international conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to import cocaine, and perjury of authority.
“Specifically, it is alleged that [Garcia] committed six offenses, that he committed them with five or more people, that he supervised or managed those five people, and that he obtained substantial profits,” Judge Brian Cogan said.
Once a major anti-drug figure in the Cabinet of President Felipe Calderon, Garcia is accused of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise by taking millions of dollars in cash bribes to ignore Sinaloa cartel operations in Mexico for more than a decade.
Before he found himself defending against criminal charges, Garcia was a major figure in Mexico’s war on drugs and something of an international expert on fighting against the cartels. In 2011, Garcia presided over the International Drug Enforcement Conference in Mexico. His arrest in Dallas, Texas, in December 2019 was a major shock to Mexicans.
Garcia served as Mexico's top security chief from 2006 to 2012, and was instrumental in reforming Mexico's new federal police force, ostensibly to improve the government’s position in their drug war. From 2001 to 2006, Garcia served as the head of the Federal Investigation Agency. Before that, he filled other key roles in the security forces.
Prosecutors assert that, between 2001 and 2012, Garcia abused his position to ensure safe movement for Sinaloa cartel drug shipments, to notify the cartel of relevant law enforcement operations and to provide information about the cartel’s rivals. They also allege that Garcia knowingly put pliant, corrupt officials into leadership positions in areas important to the cartel.
“As alleged, for nearly two decades Garcia Luna betrayed those he was sworn to protect by accepting bribes from members of the Sinaloa cartel to facilitate their crimes and empower their criminal enterprise,” said Seth D. DuCharme, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, when the indictment was issued.
As shocking as the charges may be to many, they were foreshadowed when a former Sinaloa cartel member Jesus "El Rey" (The King) Zambada, the brother of El Chapo's partner Ismael Zambada Garcia, provided key testimony against cartel leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Guzman’s 2018 trial.
Zambada stated under oath that he had personally delivered two suitcases containing millions of dollars in bribes to Garcia in a restaurant.
“Garcia Luna and his co-conspirators will face justice for offenses involving the importation and the distribution of massive quantities of dangerous drugs into the United States,” DuCharme added.
Garcia pleaded not guilty to three original counts of cocaine trafficking conspiracy and a false declaration charge in January. If found guilty of the new charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise, Garcia faces 20 years to life in prison.
The judge has scheduled Garcia’s next hearing for Dec. 7.