Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has demanded irrefutable proof from United States authorities regarding drug trafficking charges filed against ten Mexican officials, including Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya. The charges have created a significant diplomatic tension between the two neighboring countries.
During a Thursday morning press conference, Sheinbaum stated that while her administration would not protect any politician who committed crimes, clear evidence must be presented before any action is taken. She characterized the charges as potentially politically motivated, particularly given what she described as insufficient evidence.
The indictment, unsealed in the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, accuses the ten officials of collaborating with the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Prosecutors allege the officials protected cartel operations while the organization trafficked fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into the United States. In exchange, the officials allegedly received millions of dollars in bribes and political support from the criminal organization.
Among the evidence presented in the indictment are photographs of handwritten lists purportedly documenting bribes paid to government officials. The charges target high-level figures including the Sinaloa governor, the mayor of Culiacán, and senior police officials.
Sheinbaum revealed she had spoken with Governor Rocha Moya by telephone on Wednesday, assuring him that legal proceedings would follow the rule of law. She emphasized that any citizen, regardless of political position, deserves due process and should not face arrest without proper evidence. For a sitting governor, she noted, impeachment proceedings would be necessary before any detention could occur.
The president also defended her stance as non-partisan, stating she would apply the same standards regardless of political affiliation. She specifically mentioned that governors from opposition parties would receive identical treatment under similar circumstances.
Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the US extradition request by stating that the documents provided by the US embassy lacked sufficient evidence for arrest. The case has been referred to Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office for further investigation.
Attorney General Office spokesperson Ulises Lara López confirmed that an investigation would be initiated to determine whether the US accusations have sufficient legal basis to warrant arrest warrants. He reiterated that sitting governors and senators enjoy procedural immunity that would require impeachment proceedings before any detention request could be submitted to a judge.
Governor Rocha Moya has categorically denied all accusations, describing them as politically motivated attacks not just against him personally, but against Mexico’s Fourth Transformation movement, a political initiative associated with the ruling Morena party.
The charges have drawn sharp political reactions within Mexico. Senator Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas of the Institutional Revolutionary Party demanded Rocha Moya’s immediate resignation, characterizing the indictment as an international crisis affecting Mexico’s credibility.
The controversy surrounding Rocha Moya intensified following the capture of cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and the subsequent turf war in Sinaloa that began in September 2024. Zambada claimed in a statement that he had been on his way to meet with Rocha Moya to settle a dispute when he was captured.
Sheinbaum also addressed what she termed the stigmatization of Sinaloa state, defending its citizens and emphasizing its importance as Mexico’s agricultural breadbasket. She argued that the state’s population deserves protection from unfair characterization.
These charges have further strained diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States, which were already tense following an unauthorized CIA operation earlier this month that sparked political controversy in Mexico. The situation was compounded when the US State Department revoked 75 visas belonging to individuals allegedly connected to the Sinaloa Cartel on April 20.
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