Mexicos's Ex-Top Police Official Arrested Over Torture Charges; Faces Additional Charges of Accepting Bribes from Sinaloa Cartel
An ex-top police official of Mexico was arrested and is currently facing charges of torture from incidents that happened almost 10 years ago, the state announced on Monday.
The suspect, who was reported to be the former right-hand of ex-security secretary Genero Garcia Luna, was identified as former Federal Police commander Luis Cardenas Palomino.
It was reported by the attorney general of Mexico that Cardenas Palomino was apprehended on the outskirts of Mexico City. He was arrested with charges of torturing a suspect in kidnapping back in 2012.
According to The Associated Press, aside from charges of torture and abuse, U.S. prosecutors also alleged Cardenas Palomino of accepting bribes from the Sinaloa cartel. The cartel was previously run by notorious drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is currently imprisoned in the U.S.
Mexico's attorney general's office said Monday that Cardenas Palomino was arrested on the outskirts of Mexico City on allegations that he tortured a kidnapping suspect in 2012.
Moreover, Cardenas Palomino's former boss, Garcia Luna is also currently held in the U.S. with charges of drug trafficking.
'No More Corruption and Abuse in Mexico' - López Obrador
In light of the former top police official's arrest, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that it was a sign that the country is not anymore tolerating abuse and corruption. However, he stated that he is still unsure if Mexico would be extraditing Cardenas Palomino, Reuters reported.
In addition, López Obrador stated that Cardenas Palomino was nabbed because impunity no longer exists in the country. It has been known that the president's administration has grappled in fighting the rampant drug trade.
A testament to López Obrador's struggle in handling the drug cartels is his order to release one of El Chapo's sons to avoid further shed of blood.
Cardenas Palomino and Garcia Luna's Partnership
In 2019, Garcia Luna was arrested in Texas. He was known to have served as the secretary of public security of Mexico from 2006 until 2012 until he decided to relocate to the U.S.
Garcia Luna is currently awaiting trial in the U.S. He is facing charges of taking millions of dollars in bribes from the notorious Sinaloa cartel, allegations which he denied.
Cardenas Palomino worked with Garcia Luna when he served as a top commander of Mexico's then-federal police during the same years.
The pair was famous for their alleged "staged raid" in 2005. The raid, which was said to be just for TV cameras, led to the arrest of two persons who were charged with kidnapping. The two supposed suspects were reportedly already have been held illegally hours before the raid.
In a statement, José Reveles, a known author stated that Cardenas Palomino would most likely be extradited because he would be a key witness to privileged information after working as one of Garcia Luna's main men for several years.
According to President López Obrador, the widespread cases of corruption and abuse was the major factor in his decision to completely abolish the Mexican federal police in 2019.
RELATED ARTICLE: Gunfight Between Rival Jalisco Cartel and Sinaloa Cartel Leaves 18 Dead in Mexico
WATCH: Detención de Luis Cárdenas Palomino por el caso Cassez-Vallarta, según el análisis de José Reveles - CNN en Español