Former Mexican Public Safety Secretary Genaro García Luna. Photo: google.com

XINHUA

Having won last month the first round of a legal faceoff with the United States — the return of the country’s former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos, who had been arrested on drug trafficking and money laundering charges in Los Angeles in October — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) upped the ante Monday, Dec. 7, by demanding the extradition of the nation’s  former Public Security Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna

García Luna is currently is awaiting trial in the United States, also for drug trafficking and allegedly protecting a drug cartel.

The request for his extradition was made by Mexico through diplomatic channels.

The request came after Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office issued an arrest warrant last month for Garcia Luna, who was arrested in the southern U.S. state of Texas in December 2019.

The Mexican government has argued that Mexican officials should stand trial in Mexico.

Notwithstanding, following the abrupt and unexpected release of Cienfuegos, U.S. law authorities are waiting to see what charges — if any — the former general will face in Mexico.

As of now, he has been released while an “investigation” of possible charges is being mounted in Mexico.

Garcia Luna, meanwhile, has pleaded not guilty to the U.S. charges, but he reportedly would face charges of illegal enrichment in Mexico.

…Dec. 9, 2020