https://www.npr.org/2023/02/21/1158587253/mexico-genaro-garcia-luna-convicted-drug-cartel-bribes Accessibility links * Skip to main content * Keyboard shortcuts for audio player * Open Navigation Menu * NPR logo * * * NPR Shop * > Close Navigation Menu * Home * News Expand/collapse submenu for News + National + World + Politics + Business + Health + Science + Climate + Race * Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture + Books + Movies + Television + Pop Culture + Food + Art & Design + Performing Arts + Life Kit * Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music + Tiny Desk + #NowPlaying + All Songs Considered + Music Features + Live Sessions * Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily + [morning-ed] Morning Edition + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Saturday + [we_otheren] Weekend Edition Sunday + [all-things] All Things Considered + [fresh-air] Fresh Air + [up-first] Up First Featured + [embedded-t] Embedded + [pm_new_til] Planet Money + [life-kit_t] Life Kit + [book-of-th] NPR's Book of the Day + More Podcasts & Shows * Search * * NPR Shop * NPR Music NPR Music * Tiny Desk * #NowPlaying * All Songs Considered * Music Features * Live Sessions * About NPR * Diversity * Organization * Support * Careers * Connect * Press * Ethics Mexico's former public security head is convicted in the U.S. of taking cartel bribes Garcia Luna headed Mexico's federal police and became the country's top public safety official between 2006 and 2012. He was convicted of taking large bribes from drug cartels. National Mexico's former public security head is convicted in the U.S. of taking cartel bribes * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * Email February 21, 20234:57 PM ET NPR Staff [ap23052725] Enlarge this image Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety Genaro Garcia Luna attends a news conference on the sidelines of an American Police Community meeting in Mexico City, Oct. 8, 2010. The former Mexican presidential cabinet member was convicted in the U.S. on Tuesday of taking massive bribes to protect the violent drug cartels he was tasked with combating. Marco Ugarte/AP hide caption toggle caption Marco Ugarte/AP Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety Genaro Garcia Luna attends a news conference on the sidelines of an American Police Community meeting in Mexico City, Oct. 8, 2010. The former Mexican presidential cabinet member was convicted in the U.S. on Tuesday of taking massive bribes to protect the violent drug cartels he was tasked with combating. Marco Ugarte/AP Mexico's former public security secretary, Genaro Garcia Luna, has been found guilty of drug trafficking. He is the highest-ranking Mexican official ever to be tried in the United States. Garcia Luna, who headed Mexico's federal police and became the country's top public safety official between 2006 and 2012, has been on trial in a federal district court in Brooklyn, N.Y. He stood accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from the very drug cartels he was supposed to be cracking down on. He was the head of Mexico's FBI. Now he's on trial for accepting cartel bribes National He was the head of Mexico's FBI. Now he's on trial for accepting cartel bribes He pleaded not guilty, but several drug traffickers gave testimony that Garcia Luna was in fact on the payroll for Mexico's most powerful criminal organization, the Sinaloa Cartel. Witnesses said that Garcia Luna oversaw police tipping off traffickers about upcoming raids and worked to allow cocaine to pass freely through the country, The Associated Press reported. They said he colluded with cartels to raid rivals, among other favors. A former smuggler said Garcia Luna shared a document containing U.S. law enforcement information about a 2007 seized cocaine shipment, the AP reported. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. Garcia Luna was convicted on charges including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, cocaine distribution and cocaine conspiracy, the AP reported. His sentencing is scheduled for June 27. Politicians say they'll stop fentanyl smugglers. Experts say new drug war won't work National Politicians say they'll stop fentanyl smugglers. Experts say new drug war won't work * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * Email Read & Listen * Home * News * Culture * Music * Podcasts & Shows Connect * Newsletters * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Press * Contact & Help About NPR * Overview * Diversity * Accessibility * Ethics * Finances * Public Editor * Corrections Get Involved * Support Public Radio * Sponsor NPR * NPR Careers * NPR Shop * NPR Events * NPR Extra * Terms of Use * Privacy * Your Privacy Choices * Text Only * Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor