Ex-Mexican Drug Czar Denied New Trial Amid Bribery Scandal

Former Mexican public security minister Genaro Garcia Luna, convicted on U.S. corruption charges, has been denied a new trial after attempting to bribe a fellow inmate. Garcia Luna was found guilty of accepting bribes from drug cartels while in office. He faces life imprisonment when sentenced in October 2023.

Former Mexican public security minister Genaro Garcia Luna, convicted on U.S. corruption charges, has been denied a new trial. A U.S. judge ruled against Garcia Luna after he tried to bribe a fellow inmate to lie about key aspects of the case.

Garcia Luna led Mexico's war against drug cartels from 2006 to 2012 but was found guilty in February 2023 for accepting millions in bribes from cartels. His lawyers argued that key witnesses lied and improperly communicated before the trial, but the judge dismissed these claims, citing Garcia Luna's bribery attempts.

The former official is set to face life imprisonment upon sentencing on October 9. Garcia Luna is one of the highest-ranking Mexican officials linked to drug trafficking, reportedly connected to Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel.