Former Mexican drug czar, Genaro García Luna, was sentenced to 38 years in prison by the United States for colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel. Once a powerful figure in Mexican politics, the 56-year-old received a two million dollar fine along with his sentence. Garcia Luna’s trial, which lasted five weeks, found him guilty of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, participating in criminal enterprises, and giving false statements to authorities. Despite multiple appeals for a retrial, the judge upheld the verdict and issued the historic sentence.
Following Garcia Luna’s conviction, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, another key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, will face trial in the same New York court. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized Garcia Luna’s plea for clemency, labeling him as “cynical” and challenging former President Felipe Calderón to address the situation. With high-profile drug lords facing justice in US courts, the unfolding legal drama promises to captivate audiences.
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