Mexico: Former Security Chief Genaro Garcia Luna Embezzled $745.9 Million From Government Contracts

Mexico's authorities have revealed that their former security chief, Genaro Garcia Luna, has stolen more than $745.9 million from government contracts in technology, aside from allegedly receiving bribes from the Sinaloa Cartel.

Mexico's head of the anti-money laundering unit, Pablo Gomez, noted that Garcia Luna and associates created companies that got 30 dubious government contracts while he was serving as Mexico's top security official in 2006-2012, according to PBS News.

Even after Garcia Luna's service ended as a government official, the scheme went on for six years afterward.

Gomez argued that Garcia Luna has created a "network of corruption and money laundering" that would benefit him and his close associates.

Gomez described some of the properties that the Mexican government is eyeing to recover in a lawsuit filed in Florida against Garcia Luna and his associates.

Garcia Luna moved to Florida after leaving office in Mexico and described his associates as a "family business conglomerate."

Genaro Garcia Luna Stealing $745 Million

Garcia Luna allegedly funneled money from prison security and government intelligence technology contracts to offshore accounts, with many of those found in Barbados.

It was then sent to Miami to buy fancy condos and vintage cars, as cited in Associated Press News.

Gomez also suggested that Luna and his associates had an affinity for vintage Mustangs from the 1960s and '70s, with the group buying several of those.

Garcia Luna also reportedly bought sports cars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris using the money for government contracts.

The said contracts were mainly for surveillance, monitoring, and communications that will be used in prisons and intelligence operations.

The price of the contracts was believed to be inflated, with Gomez noting that one contract was "simply falsified."

The Florida case was one of the other cases Garcia Luna is currently facing.

Genaro Garcia Luna and Sinaloa Cartel

Garcia Luna is also facing a trial and is considered to be one of the most significant drug trafficking cases.

The former Mexican security chief is also accused of taking millions of dollars of bribes in exchange for granting protection to the infamous cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, which was led by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

U.S. Prosecutors alleged that the bribe money protected the cartel and allowed the crime organization to ship tons of illegal narcotics to the United States.

Accusations against Garcia Luna started during El Chapo's trial, which ended in his conviction in 2019.

Prosecutor Philip Pilmar said in opening arguments that Garcia Luna took "millions of dollars of bribes" repeatedly, according to The New York Times.

Oscar Nava Valencia testified in front of jurors that he paid off Garcia Luna. He added that in 2008, he was seeking protection against a violent rival and gave Garcia Luna $3 million in cash at a secret meeting at a carwash.

Another cooperating witness, Israel Avila, who is a Sinaloa Cartel accountant, noted that Arturo Beltrán Leyva asked Garcia Luna whether he would support his side or the side of El Chapo.

Avila said that when Garcia Luna failed to provide an answer, Beltran Leyva had him kidnapped, which lasted a week.

READ MORE: Genaro García Luna, Mexico's Ex-security Chief, Accused of Accepting Bribes From Mexican Drug Cartels, Faces Corruption Trial

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Genaro García Luna busca poner condiciones en caso de testificar - from MILENIO