Mexico: Ex-Drug Czar Took Bribes From El Chapo, Sinaloa Cartel

The United States has charged a Mexican law enforcement official who once served as Mexico's drug czar with bribery charges. Genaro Garcia Luna was once the country's top drug enforcement official, but now he is facing charges of being bribed by El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to federal prosecutors in New York City, Garcia Luna accepted bribes from El Chapo and the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for protection from being arrested, as well as safe passage for the cartel's cocaine shipments. Garcia Luna also tipped Sinaloa Cartel members about any upcoming law enforcement operations.

After three days of deliberations, the former drug czar was found guilty of all five counts he was charged with. Reuters reported that among those five charges included continuing criminal enterprise and conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the United States.

He is now the highest-ranking Mexican official to be convicted in the United States. His sentencing is scheduled on June 27, with Garcia Luna facing up to 20 years in prison.

Who Is Genaro Garcia Luna?

According to NPR, Garcia Luna previously headed Mexico's Federal Police before becoming the country's top public safety official from 2006 to 2012. He used his position to collude with the Sinaloa Cartel, and this included raiding their rivals, as well as other favors, in exchange for the bribes he was charged with.

He was supposed to crack down on the El Chapo-led criminal empire but instead helped them behind the scenes. He was accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from them, and he pleaded "Not Guilty" on those charges.

However, during the trial, several drug traffickers testified that the former Mexican drug czar was on the payroll of Mexico's most powerful drug syndicate, with some of them testifying that he tipped off drug traffickers about upcoming raids himself.

U.S. Court Decision Vs. Genaro Garcia Luna Gets Praise From President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Before taking Mexico's highest office, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) was one of then-Mexican President Felipe Calderon's biggest critics. With the conviction of one of his biggest political rivals' most trusted officials, AMLO praised the U.S. court decision while also taking a shot at his former rival.

AMLO spokesperson Jesus Ramirez Cuevas took to social media and posted that the "former squire of Felipe Calderon" finally met justice, adding, "The crimes against our people will never be forgotten."

Meanwhile, the U.S. court decision itself could also have a big effect back in Mexico. According to Ioan Grillo, a Mexico-based British author and expert on Mexico's criminal underworld, this could encourage more Mexican prosecutors to go after other cases of corruption.

The expert on drug cartels spoke with the BBC and stated that his conviction could help Mexican officials be dissuaded from being "openly corrupt" and working with the cartels. "If you're a Mexican agent, you'll be thinking about how much you expose yourself to the Americans," he told the British outlet.

However, this could still complicate things, as Alejandro Hope, a former Mexican intelligence official, stated that this could "complicate some parts" of US-Mexico cooperation as Mexican officials will now know that the United States has its eye on them.

READ MORE: El Chapo Son Not Extradited to U.S.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexico's former anti-narcotics chief on trial in U.S., accused of protecting cartels - PBS News Hour