US accuses Mexican governor of alleged cartel ties, marking new front in drug war
The Justice Department said Rocha and the others allegedly conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes
Highlights:
- Indictment marks rare move against sitting Mexican politicians, expanding US anti-cartel efforts
- Governor Rocha allegedly aided cartel in exchange for support, Justice Department claims
- Rocha denies charges, Mexico's Attorney General's Office says beginning an investigation
The US Justice Department said on Wednesday it had charged the governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, Ruben Rocha, and other officials for their alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, in a significant escalation of US anti-cartel action that is likely to increase tensions between the United States and Mexico.
The Justice Department said Rocha and the others allegedly conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics into the US in exchange for political support and bribes.
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Indictments against sitting senior Mexican politicians are extremely uncommon and the charges against Rocha appear to mark a new front in the US fight against the cartels, expanding investigations beyond kingpins of the criminal groups to include politicians.
Rocha's indictment poses a problem for President Claudia Sheinbaum, particularly because they are both from the same ruling Morena party. Rocha 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.
Last year, Reuters exclusively reported on the US pressuring Mexico to investigate and prosecute politicians with suspected links to organised crime.
Rocha denied the charges and said they were an attack against Mexico's governing political movement.
"They lack any truth or foundation whatsoever," Rocha said in a post on X, promising they would be proven false.
In a statement, Mexico's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it had received several extradition requests for Mexican individuals a day earlier, but that they lacked sufficient evidence. Mexico's Attorney General's Office said it was beginning an investigation to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to merit arrest warrants in Mexico, in accordance with Mexican law.
According to the Justice Department, Rocha was elected as governor of Sinaloa in 2021 with the help of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel run by the sons of founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, known as "Los Chapitos."
The Chapitos allegedly kidnapped and intimidated his rivals, the Justice Department said, in exchange for Rocha's promise to allow the group to operate with impunity and distribute drugs to the US.
The indictment comes after the US ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, last week promised action on combating corruption in Mexico.
The others charged include current and former state-level officials as well as the mayor and an ex-police commander for Culiacan, the state capital, which has been plagued by drug violence.
"Corruption that enables organised crime and harms both our countries will be investigated and prosecuted wherever US jurisdiction applies," the US Embassy in Mexico said in a separate statement after the indictment was announced.
