Arrested in the US to former Secretary of Public Security of Mexico Genaro García Luna

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(CNN Spanish) - Former Mexican Public Security Secretary Genaro García Luna was prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice on three counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and a charge for making false statements. He was arrested Monday by federal agents in Dallas, Texas.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice published on Tuesday, García Luna allegedly allowed the Sinaloa cartel to operate “with impunity” in Mexico between 2001 and 2012. From 2006 to 2012 García Luna was Secretary of Public Security under the government of Felipe Calderón and before of that he led the now extinct Federal Research Agency (AFI). The government is going to ask that it be transferred to the Eastern District of New York to face these charges.

CNN does not know if the accused has legal representation so far.

Richard P. Donoghue, Prosecutor of the Eastern District of New York announced the charges: “García Luna is accused of receiving millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa cartel of Chapo Guzmán when he was in charge of the Federal Police of Mexico and was responsible for ensuring Public safety in Mexico.

According to the statement, Donoghue said: “The arrest demonstrates our determination to bring to justice those who help the cartels generate devastating damage in the United States and Mexico, regardless of their positions while committing these crimes.

According to the complaint dated December 4 and other government court documents, from 2001 to 2012, while García Luna occupied high-ranking positions in the Mexican government, he would have received millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa cartel in exchange for provide protection for their drug trafficking activities.

In exchange for the bribes, said criminal organization would have obtained safe conduct for its vessels with drugs, sensitive police information on cartel investigations and information on rival cartels. The document cites financial records that would indicate that since García Luna moved to 2012, he would have "accumulated a personal fortune of millions of dollars."

Through his verified Twitter account, former President Calderón said he is learning about the fact through social networks and that his position will be “always in favor of justice and the law”: “I am knowing the version of the alleged social networks arrest of Genaro García Luna. I do not know details and I am aware of the information that confirms the fact, as well as of the charges that, where appropriate, are imputed. My position will always be in favor of justice and the law, ”he wrote.

I am knowing the version of the alleged arrest of Genaro García Luna through social networks. I do not know details and I am aware of the information that confirms the fact, as well as of the charges that, where appropriate, are imputed. My position will always be in favor of justice and the law.

- Felipe Calderón (@FelipeCalderon) December 10, 2019

If García Luna is convicted of the drug-related conspiracy, he would face a mandatory mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in jail and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The former official is expected to appear Tuesday before a federal court in Dallas at 2pmET.

Genaro García Luna