New York, USA.- Former Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna listened to the allegations of the US government accusing him of having “betrayed” his country and the United States for trafficking cocaine, a crime for which he faces life imprisonment. Meanwhile, his defense assured that the case is based on “shaky foundations.”
Accused of five charges, including several for drug trafficking, the former Mexican commander arrived at the courtroom with a relaxed face, putting his hand to his heart on several occasions, while sending kisses to his wife and daughter, present at the hearing that Judge Brian Cogan presides.
Before beginning, he embraced the members of his defense, led by lawyer César de Castro.
After a long speech by the judge to the jury about what to do and how to behave throughout the eight weeks that the trial is expected to last, the prosecution presented its arguments against the Mexican.
“The defendant took millions of dollars in bribes over and over again (from the Sinaloa Cartel),” said prosecutor Philip Pilmar, who recalled that “no one is above the law.”
“He betrayed his country and ours.”
According to the New York prosecutor’s office, the director of the Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) between 2001 and 2005 and Secretary of Public Security from 2006-2012 helped the Sinaloa Cartel introduce 53 tons of cocaine into the United States, becoming a “member”. More of the conspiracy.
For its part, the defense alleges that there is “no money, no photos, no videos, no recordings, no texts, no evidence” of these accusations.
This case is based on “shaky foundations,” De Castro said.
“Quantity is not quality,” the defense attorney told the jury, and when “you don’t have quality you overwhelm with quantity.”
According to the defense, the government witnesses are victims of former President Felipe Calderón’s war against drug trafficking, and they intend to “kill two birds with one stone: reduce their sentence and take revenge on the person drug traffickers hate the most.”
The name of García Luna arose in the trial of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in which one of the witnesses said that he had given him suitcases with millions of dollars in bribes between 2005 and 2007.
