The US indictment alleges that Ruben Rocha Moya conspired to move drugs from the Sinaloa Cartel into the US, in exchange for political support
The United States Justice Department has charged the governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state and nine other officials for their alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, it announced on Wednesday.
The Justice Department claimed that Ruben Rocha Moya and others conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.
The nine others include current and former Mexican officials, some of whom have been accused of having participated in the cartel’s campaign of violence.
The indictment marks a rare move against sitting Mexican politicians and an expansion of Washington’s anti-cartel efforts, which is likely to increase tensions between the neighboring countries.
The charges against Moya are especially a problem for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as they are from the same ruling Morena party. Moya is also an ally of Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
“Let these charges send a clear message to all officials around the globe who work with narco-traffickers: no matter your title or position, we are committed to bringing you to justice,” US Attorney Jay Clayton said in the statement announcing the indictment.
The charges come after the US ambassador to Mexico last week promised action on combating corruption in Mexico.
Mexico opens investigation
Responding to the US charges, Mexican federal prosecutors said they will open their own investigation into the Sinaloa state governor to determine if the accusations made by the US authorities have legal grounds.
In a statement, Mexico’s foreign ministry said it had received US extradition requests for “various people,” without naming Moya.
The ministry said cases like these were normally handled with confidentiality under bilateral ties and that they would protest to the US “over the way it was announced” publicly first.
The Mexican attorney general’s office will now decide if Moya and the other suspects will be extradited to the US, the foreign ministry said.
Sinaloa governor denies allegations, claims slander
Moya has “categorically and absolutely” rejected the allegations, which he said “lack any truth or foundation whatsoever.”
“This attack is not solely against my person; but against the movement of the Fourth Transformation, its emblematic leaderships, and the Mexican women and men who represent that cause,” he said in a post on X.
Moya alleged the indictment was part of a “perverse strategy” to violate national sovereignty. Addressing the people of his state, Moya said they would “demonstrate the lack of foundation for this slander.”
Edited by: Zac Crellin
DW News
