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US Charges Former Sinaloa Governor and Officials with Aiding Drug Cartel
The US government has indicted the governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state and nine other current and former officials for alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel, including drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for irrefutable evidence and suggested the charges may be politically motivated. The governor denied the allegations and vowed to challenge them.
The GuardianAudio version
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The US government unsealed an indictment charging the governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, Rubén Rocha Moya, and nine other current and former officials with aiding the Sinaloa cartel in drug trafficking operations. The charges, filed in Manhattan federal court, accuse the officials of conspiring to import fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States.
Prosecutors allege the defendants protected cartel activities in exchange for bribes and electoral support, including kidnapping and intimidating political rivals.
Rocha Moya, 76, who has served as Sinaloa's governor since November 2021, faces charges including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. If convicted, he could face a mandatory minimum of 40 years in prison or life imprisonment.
Rocha Moya rejected the charges on social media, stating they were completely untrue and part of a strategy to violate Mexico's sovereignty. He pledged to demonstrate the accusations lack foundation. She suggested the charges might be politically motivated, especially amid pressures from the Trump administration.
During a press conference, Sheinbaum said Mexico would not cover up crimes but warned against foreign intervention. The country's attorney general's office plans to analyze US evidence for potential extradition requests and conduct a parallel investigation.
“We will not cover up for anyone who has committed a crime. He emphasized strengthening transparency and upholding the rule of law. Sheinbaum criticized the ambassador's comments as interventionist, asserting that no foreign government should decide Mexico's future. Mexico's foreign relations secretariat confirmed receiving extradition requests and noted the attorney general would determine if evidence suffices for detentions.”
