The trial against former Mexican Public Security Secretary Genaro García Luna, begins this week in New York. The supercop who developed extraordinary cooperation between his country and the U. S. in the fight against drugs, and instituted new and effective methods in the war against the major cartels will be held accountable for his ties to Chapo Guzman.
During his six-year term as head of the Secretariat of Public Security of the Government of Felipe Calderón, between 2006 and 2012, García Luna was a strong supporter of police collaboration with the United States. In fact, he was a key part of Plan Mérida, an initiative of the Bush Administration and implemented during Barack Obama's term as president (from 2009). This was an agreement for the two countries to work together and in which the USA invested large sums of money (US$1.5 billion between 2008-2010 alone, rising to US$3.3 billion over 13 years) to equip Mexican security forces with better weaponry.
The 'supercop' who modernized the fight against drugs
On Mexico's side, Calderón pledged to strengthen the fight against corruption. In addition, both countries would increase their collaboration and intelligence sharing, as well as establish a strategy for the arrest and extradition of the heads of criminal organizations. In this climate of cooperation, García Luna created from scratch the Secretariat of Public Security dedicated to investigation and inspired by the FBI.
Under his control, the first effective nationwide police force was established, thanks to systems with a database capable of rapidly tracking car license plates and carrying out discreet and covert investigations and operations. He also inaugurated a powerful forensic laboratory that was staffed with better-trained and younger university-educated agents. For its implementation, García Luna invited trainers from the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
"Collaborative and committed partner"
A former senior U.S. official who prefers to remain anonymous recalled that García Luna "was an enormously collaborative and committed partner" and highlighted his apparent commitment to a new "vision" on how to fight against organized crime in Mexico, "His effort to reform the police was impressive. He was a visionary institution builder," insists this official. Former Ambassador Tom Feeley, who worked hand in hand with him on the implementation of Plan Mérida, recalls that the Mexican "liked to present himself as an avenging superhero policeman. We really have to admit that he fooled us."
Although the fight against the cartels began to show promising results, voices began to be raised accusing Calderón's executive that his fight against drug trafficking left out and benefited Chapo Guzmán's Sinaloa cartel, something the former president always strongly denied. Regarding the suspicions about the high standard of living of the Secretary of Public Security, the family wealth was always associated with his wife.
Mexico claims 250 million
After his retirement, he settled in Florida in 2012, where he lived a life of luxury. It was precisely this opulent life that led to an investigation into the origin of the hundreds of millions in which his fortune was valued. In 2019 he was arrested, accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes from El Chapo Guzmán to allow the Sinaloa Cartel to traffic cocaine with impunity. In 2021, the Mexican government filed a complaint in Florida demanding the return of the US$250 million that García Luna is estimated to have stolen from the country in illegal contracts.
Garcia Luna's ties to the narcotics industry started coming to light in the various trials against important collaborators of the Sinaloa cartel leader. Some of them even credited him with the payment of several million-dollar bribes in restaurants.
An awaited and feared trial
With the selection of the jury, scheduled for this Tuesday, a trial that has been awaited and feared in equal parts by both governments will begin. On the Mexican side, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is reinforcing his rhetoric that the problems in security and in the fight against traffickers stem from previous governments, while allowing them to cover up their poor numbers in this area at present. For its part, the U.S. can boast of the judgment against a big fish in the drug war and for pacifying the border. Both states, however,are concerned about sensitive information that could surface during the trial.
