The ex-narco Jesús 'El Rey' Zambada García is the star witness of the Prosecutor's Office to close his accusation against García Luna in New York

The jury in the trial of Genaro García Luna in a federal court in New York will hear this Monday a star witness from the Prosecutor's Office, long anticipated, to thus close his accusation against the former Mexican Security Secretary of receiving bribes from drug traffickers: after days of speculation about Who it would be, Telemundo News confirmed with a court document that it is Jesús

Zambada García, former leader of the Beltrán Leiva clan, and former member of the Sinaloa cartel.

After 10 hearings and more than 25 witnesses, several of them ex-narcos, the process against García Luna reaches its final part by the Prosecutor's Office, pending the presentation of the defense, which begins tomorrow Tuesday, with the possibility of García Luna speak before a jury.

He is accused of receiving cash payments from the Sinaloa cartel in exchange for helping them traffic, grow and suppress his rivals. 

The Prosecutor's Office had asked to conclude its presentation of evidence on February 13, anticipating that it had one last "significant" witness and several names of former drug traffickers who have previously collaborated with the US authorities are being considered.

The Department of Justice confirmed to Telemundo News that it is Zambada García.

[These are the evidences against García Luna so far in the trial]

Zambada García is a former Sinaloa Cartel operative and younger brother of Ismael

Zambada.

He was arrested in October 2008 and extradited to the United States in 2014, where he was convicted of drug trafficking.

Like other former drug traffickers, he is a protected witness who has agreed to collaborate with US authorities in exchange for certain benefits.

He gave his testimony in the trial against Joaquín

Guzmán in the same court in Brooklyn where García Luna is now being tried and before the same judge, Brian Cogan.

And he said at that time that

two suitcases

, in 2005 and 2007, in exchange for protection for the band's activities.

Zambada García is presented to the press after his arrest in 2008 in Mexico.

Alexandre Meneghini / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Other ex-narcos have already passed through the Brooklyn court detailing what, they say, was their deal with García Luna between 2001 and 2012: they paid him millions, in cash, in exchange for protection, confidential information and logistical help.

"It was the best investment of the Sinaloa cartel," said Sergio

Villarreal Barragán, former leader of the Beltrán Leiva criminal organization and the first witness called by the Prosecutor's Office.

The ex-capo's accountant Mario Pineda Villa, identified as Israel Ávila, said for his part that the payments were made through cartel leaders, citing El

The Prosecutor's Office also anticipated that it

from García Luna's personal computer and cell phone that would show the alleged benefits of that drug money: luxurious residences in Morelos and Mexico City (with a giant fish tank), a Mustang car and another Land Rover, and a yacht, among others.

The defense demanded that only what can be proven belonged to the former secretary be shown, and the judge agreed with him.

García Luna's lawyers also requested that the statements of the witnesses be limited to what pertains to the direct accusation against García Luna, considering that all the details about how drug trafficking in Mexico worked have been sufficient.

Mentioned several times before the jury

Harold Poveda Ortega, nicknamed

several times in his testimony

last week

 He recounted that, on one occasion when he traveled to Mexico City, Zambada took him to the airport and handed him over to federal police agents so that

.

In another part of his testimony, he spoke of the more than 20 properties he owned as a result of drug trafficking.

The judicial police fell on one of those houses and arrested his parents, some cousins ​​and workers during a party.

He said that it was

who sent the police, after the factions of the Sinaloa cartel divided and began to fight, in 2008. The prosecutor presented as evidence a video of that house, where you can see the animals he kept: lions , panthers, white tigers, a chimpanzee... and

cried when he saw his mansion.

's capture

to send him "urgently" 300,000 dollars so that the media could spread the news quickly, since they feared that the Federal Police would release him or negotiate his release. .

A second drug trafficker assures that he paid millionaire bribes to Genaro García Luna

Jan 31, 202301:40

The defense has questioned the testimonies of ex-narcos indicating that they are criminals who

, who was the

anti-drug

"What better revenge than to bury the man who led the war against the cartels," said César de Castro, García Luna's lawyer.

He has also pointed out that there is no concrete evidence, such as photographs or recordings, of the alleged meetings, and highlighted what he considers contradictions in the testimonies.