Mexican Officials in Sinaloa Resign After US Drug Trafficking Indictment

Two officials in Mexico's northwestern Sinaloa state, members of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party, announced temporary leaves from their positions after the U.S. Justice Department indicted them and eight others for drug trafficking. The charges accuse the officials of protecting the Sinaloa cartel and aiding the smuggling of narcotics into the United States in exchange for bribes.

The governor denied the accusations in a video statement, calling them false and malicious, and stated the decision to step down was to defend against the allegations and cooperate with investigations. The mayor of Sinaloa's capital, Culiacan, also denied the charges and took temporary leave, with the city's comptroller assuming interim duties.

By stepping down temporarily rather than resigning, the officials retain immunity from prosecution, which would require impeachment by Mexico's Congress for charges to proceed.

Sheinbaum said Mexican authorities would investigate and that officials would be tried in Mexico if irrefutable evidence emerges, rejecting U.S. extradition without solid proof.

“We will never subordinate ourselves because this is a matter of the dignity of the Mexican people.”

Sheinbaum noted this marks the first public U.S. narcotrafficking charges against a sitting governor or high-ranking officials. The Mexican attorney general’s office stated it would not arrest the accused pending investigation, despite U.S. requests.

The indicted officials include serving and former politicians and security officers, with at least three affiliated with Morena. Sources report the governor has faced prior cartel-related scandals, including a 2024 incident where a cartel capo's letter mentioned a planned meeting with the governor during a kidnapping.