The arrest of Genaro García Luna marked the beginning of a judicial process that shocked Mexican politics, as he was one of the main responsible for the strategy against drug trafficking during Felipe Calderón's administration. García Luna was accused of being linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful criminal groups in the world. According to investigations, he allegedly received millions in bribes in exchange for allowing the trafficking of drugs into the United States. These accusations arose from testimonies of drug traffickers and former collaborators during Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán's trial.
After his arrest, García Luna was transferred to New York, where he faced charges of drug trafficking, conspiracy, and false statements, of which he was found guilty in 2023. Despite being postponed several times, on October 16, the New York Prosecutor's Office finally handed down a sentence against him. Previously, García Luna reiterated his innocence in a letter made public by his lawyer, denouncing reprisals from the New York Prosecutor's Office for not accepting a plea deal in 2019. While awaiting his sentence, he was held in a federal prison in Brooklyn.
It is worth mentioning that García Luna must also serve five years under supervised release. He was arrested on December 9, 2019, in Dallas, Texas, by DEA agents. Recently, his defense notified the United States Court that they would appeal the sentence. Despite being a constitutional procedure, a response is expected that could be unfavorable. García Luna was sentenced to more than 38 years in prison for drug trafficking and organized crime, with a fine of 2 million dollars. If he serves his full sentence, he would be released from prison close to the age of 90, considering his current age of 56 years and the 5 years he has already spent deprived of his liberty.
