Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Says Mexico Wants the $700 Million Corruption Money From Ex-security Chief Genaro Garcia Luna

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has commented on the ongoing trial of the country's former security chief Genaro Garcia Luna, noting that Mexico wants the $700 million corruption money.

Garcia Luna is currently facing trial in New York, with the Mexican president pointing to the accumulated money the ex-security chief from his corruption rig, according to Associated Press News.

Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard noted that the government has filed a lawsuit in Florida, where Garcia Luna was living after he fled Mexico.

The country's former top security official is accused of accepting bribes of briefcases full of cash to let Sinaloa Cartel engage with its operations with impunity.

Lopez Obrador has long lamented that when corrupt politicians and drug traffickers are extradited to the United States, the U.S. government keeps the fortunes, which were largely made in Mexico.

The Mexican president also commented on the ongoing trial of the former Mexican security official, stressing that U.S. authorities must testify about their links in the case against Garcia Luna.

AMLO noted that the New York trial against Garcia Luna should show the extent of U.S. agents and officials' involvement in the case.

Genaro Garcia Luna Corruption Trial

Both the prosecution and defense of the case presented their opening arguments on Monday in front of the jury.

The prosecution argued Garcia Luna's role in allegedly allowing the Sinaloa Cartel to import huge amounts of drugs to the United States.

Prosecutor Philip Pilmar said in his opening arguments that Garcia Luna "took millions of dollars of bribes" repeatedly and described the accused as "the man who betrayed his country and ours."

Garcia Luna's lawyer, Cesar de Castro, rejected the allegations and highlighted the lack of evidence the U.S. authorities have in connecting his client directly to the claims of bribery.

De Castro said that there are "no money, no photos, no emails, no documents" or any credible material that suggested Garcia Luna assisted the cartel.

He added that the cartel members set to testify are looking to lessen their sentences and exact revenge on Garcia Luna.

De Castro addressed the jurors and said "don't let the cartels play you."

Garcia Luna was the chief security official during President Felipe Calderon's administration and was known to be the architect of the war on drugs.

Genaro Garcia Luna and Sinaloa Cartel

Garcia Luna reportedly gave El Chapo's cartel information about law enforcement operations against them, including warnings in advance of planned arrests of its members, and helped in the release of detained gang members.

The former top official is also accused of focusing on rival cartels, instead of the Sinaloa Cartels.

Garcia Luna was also accused of unlawfully swindling $250 million from the Mexican government through a "complicated unlawful government-contracting scheme."

Sinaloa Cartel is known to be one of the largest and most powerful organized crime groups in Mexico, with some of its key figures including El Mayo and El Azul.

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Written by: Mary Webber

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