Former Mexican Minister Ordered to Pay Billions in Corruption Case

A former Mexican minister, Genaro García Luna, has been ordered by a court in Florida to pay over $2 billion to the Mexican government due to his involvement in drug trafficking and corruption. This ruling, announced by the Mexican government, stipulates that García Luna and his wife, Linda Cristina Pereyra, owe a total of approximately $2.4 billion (around EUR2.1 billion), which is significantly higher than the amount initially sought by the Mexican authorities.

García Luna has been held responsible for nearly $749 million of the total, while his wife has been ordered to pay around $1.74 billion. The court's decision aligns with multiple guilty verdicts previously issued against the couple and their associated businesses, which had failed to appear in court. To date, nearly $3 million has been seized from their assets and properties.

In February 2023, García Luna was found guilty of drug trafficking and corruption charges. Later, in October 2024, he received a sentence of over 38 years in prison in the United States for colluding with the notorious Sinaloa cartel. The presiding judge in New York imposed a prison term of 460 months along with a monetary penalty of $2 million.

García Luna is notable for being the highest-ranking former Mexican official to face legal proceedings in the U.S. related to drug charges. His tenure as Mexico's Minister of Public Security spanned from 2006 to 2012 during President Felipe Calderón's administration, a period marked by a government-led crackdown on drug trafficking organizations.

Prior to his ministerial role, García Luna led the now-defunct Federal Investigation Agency (AFI) from 2001 to 2005, which was established to combat corruption and organized crime. Investigations by the New York federal prosecutor's office revealed that he facilitated the Sinaloa cartel's operations, allegedly aiding in the smuggling of at least 53 tons of cocaine into the United States starting in 2001. It is alleged that he provided drug traffickers with information regarding law enforcement operations, orchestrated the arrests of rival cartel members, and appointed corrupt officials to significant positions in exchange for millions in bribes.

After leaving public office, García Luna relocated to the United States in 2012, where he leveraged his extensive connections to secure profitable contracts with the Mexican government until his arrest in December 2019. The Mexican government has accused a company group linked to García Luna of receiving approximately 30 public contracts, totaling over $745 million.

According to Mexico's Financial Intelligence Unit, the funds were allegedly transferred abroad through tax havens and the acquisition of real estate and other assets in Florida.