García Luna's trial would end sooner than expected, what's next?
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(CNN Spanish) --
Jesús "El Rey" Zambada testified this Monday that he paid at least 5 million dollars to Genaro García Luna, former Secretary of Public Security of Mexico, in exchange for protection for his brother Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.
During the trial against the former official, which is in its fourth week in New York, El Rey Zambada said he had two meetings with García Luna that allegedly took place through a lawyer, who also allegedly worked for the Sinaloa Cartel, who, according to the witness was in charge of delivering money to high-level officials on behalf of his brother El Mayo Zambada.
The details of the alleged meetings between El Rey Zambada and García Luna
According to El Rey Zambada, the first meeting was at the end of 2006, when they found out that García Luna was going to be appointed Secretary of Public Security in the government of Felipe Calderón.
The witness said that the lawyer asked him for 3 million dollars to be able to meet with García Luna.
Zambada said that he helped the lawyer pack that money into two suitcases and, according to his statement, the meeting took place in a restaurant in Mexico City.
The defense of Genaro García Luna has not yet defined whether he will testify during the trial he is facing in New York
King Zambada said that he arrived at the place first, then the lawyer arrived - who, he pointed out, went up to a private room on the second level of the restaurant - and then he saw García Luna with two companions who also went to that room.
Zambada added that about 15 minutes later he saw García Luna and his two companions come down with the suitcases of money.
Zambada stated that, after the appointment, the lawyer said that García Luna assured him that El Mayo Zambada would not have any problems, that there would be no persecution or investigations against him, and that basically he would be able to work freely.
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According to El Rey Zambada, the second meeting took place three weeks later and, for that occasion, the lawyer informed him that they needed 2 million dollars.
Zambada said that he again helped him pack up the money.
The meeting was held, according to the witness, in the same restaurant.
On this occasion, Zambada says that he went up to the private room and that, while he was talking with the lawyer, García Luna arrived.
The witness said that he appeared with García Luna, but then left because he did not want her to find out who he really was.
Rey Zambada said that, after the second meeting, the lawyer reiterated that García Luna had told him that El Mayo and the cartel would receive protection and that, if changes were needed in commanders or security personnel in the plazas, he would control them.
Procedures at the airport
Between 2000 and the year of his arrest in 2008, El Rey Zambada said he managed the Mexico City International Airport for the Sinaloa Cartel.
He said that the organization had the support of senior government officials, the now dissolved Federal Highway and Port Police, Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) and the Attorney General's Office to receive and send cocaine shipments to the United States on commercial flights. and cargo charters.
According to him, the same federal agents helped unload and remove the drugs from the airport in their patrol cars.
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Zambada said that the support that García Luna supposedly gave the Sinaloa Cartel was extremely important for the growth of the organization, because they could work very safely in all the territories where they operated and even, if they had to fight, they had that support.
In this Monday's session, the defense must cross-examine this witness.
Garcia Luna faces multiple counts of participation in an ongoing criminal enterprise and charges of conspiring to obtain, import and distribute thousands of kilograms of cocaine in the United States, as well as allegedly making false statements to US immigration officials.
The former official has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Genaro Garcia Luna