The United States Department of Justice has charged the governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state and nine other officials over alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, it was announced on Wednesday.
The Justice Department claimed that Ruben Rocha Moya and others conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import vast quantities of narcotics into the United States in exchange for political favors and bribes.
Nine others include current and former Mexican officials, some of whom have been accused of participating in the cartel’s campaign of violence.
The indictment marks a rare move against incumbent Mexican politicians and an expansion of Washington’s anti-cartel efforts, which is likely to escalate tensions between the neighboring countries.
The allegations against Moyá are particularly a problem for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum because they come from the same ruling Morena party. Moya is also an ally of Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“These charges should send a clear message to all authorities around the world who work with narco-traffickers: No matter your rank or position, we are committed to bringing you to justice,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in the statement announcing the indictment.
The allegations come after the US Ambassador to Mexico promised action last week to tackle corruption in Mexico.
Mexico started investigation
Responding to the US allegations, Mexican federal prosecutors said they would launch their own investigation against the governor of Sinaloa state to determine whether the charges brought by US officials have a legal basis.
In a statement, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry, without naming Moya, said it had received US extradition requests for “various individuals”.
The ministry said such cases are generally handled with confidentiality under bilateral relations and that they would first publicly protest to the US “over the manner in which it was announced”.
The Mexican Attorney General’s Office will now decide whether Moya and the other suspects will be extradited to the United States, the State Department said.
Sinaloa governor denies allegations, claims slander
Moya has “categorically and completely” rejected the allegations, which he said have “no truth or basis whatsoever.”
“This attack is not solely against my person, but against the movement of the Fourth Change, its symbolic leadership, and the Mexican women and men who represent that objective,” he said in a post on Twitter.
Moya alleged that the impeachment was part of a “perverse strategy” to violate national sovereignty. Addressing the people of his state, Moya said they would “demonstrate the lack of basis for this slander.”
Edited by: Zack Crellin