The Mexican government is pushing back against a sweeping indictment from the U.S. that was revealed on Wednesday. This indictment accuses the governor of Sinaloa and ten other officials of being part of a deadly drug-trafficking conspiracy linked to the Sinaloa cartel.
Only hours after the U.S. confirmed these serious charges—claiming that corrupt officials had protected cartel leaders, facilitated the transportation of fentanyl into the U.S., and even contributed to the torture and murder of DEA officials—the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded. They stated that the U.S. had not provided sufficient evidence to back these claims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York asserts that officials accepted millions in bribes from the Chapitos faction, allowing the cartel to operate without restraint and turning the region into a hotspot for deadly drug trafficking.
In an official statement, Mexico’s SRE confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Mexico received the extradition request late Tuesday night. However, after reviewing the legal documents, the Mexican government concluded that they “contain no evidentiary elements” that would justify the accusations against the officials.
The disputes over this cartel investigation have already sparked diplomatic tensions. Mexico has criticized the U.S. for making the charges public, noting that existing treaties between the two nations require confidentiality.
In response to the U.S. actions, the Mexican government plans to issue a formal diplomatic protest, known as an “extrañamiento,” to the U.S. embassy regarding how the accusations were disclosed.
On the U.S. side, Ambassador Ron Johnson noted the Mexican government’s dismissal of the criminal charges against Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and others. He emphasized that fighting corruption and transnational crime is a shared goal for both nations. He stated, “This is what our people on both sides of the border want,” reiterating the importance of transparency and rule of law.
Johnson added that the United States intends to work closely with Mexican leaders to ensure accountability and a secure future for both nations. He stressed the commitment to a partnership based on trust and mutual responsibility, and mentioned that ongoing investigations into corruption would continue wherever U.S. jurisdiction applies.
As of now, neither the White House nor Mexico’s foreign minister has provided immediate comments, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York also declined to comment on the matter.
