Ten former and current Mexican officials were indicted in the United States on drug trafficking and related weapons crimes, New York prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
US prosecutors in the Southern District of New York accuse the officials, including Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya, of conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel “to distribute massive quantities of narcotics to the United States.”
The United States recognizes the cartel, one of the world’s most powerful drug organizations, as a terrorist organization.
All ten are current or former high-level government and law enforcement officers from Sinaloa, a state in western Mexico. They also include Senator Enrique Inzunza Cazarez of Mexico’s Morena Party, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
In their indictment, US investigators allege that Iván and Ovidio Guzmán, sons of incarcerated Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, forged a plan to help Rocha Moya, also of the Morena bloc, achieve governorship of Sinaloa in exchange for cartel members’ protection.
Rocha Moya “categorically and absolutely” denied the charges against him in a post on X, claiming that they “lack any truth or basis whatsoever. ” And the truth will be demonstrated in full force at the appropriate time.
On Wednesday, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry received “extradition requests for several individuals” from the US government. However, the documents received from the US Embassy do not provide sufficient evidence to establish the responsibility of the individuals. The current treaties have particular rules ensuring the confidentiality of information,” the ministry said. “A formal protest will therefore be sent to the U.S. Embassy regarding the manner in which the information was disclosed.”
Prosecutor Ulises Lara López stated that the Attorney General’s Office will conduct its own investigation to decide whether there is adequate evidence under Mexican law and whether to issue the temporary arrest requests.
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