U.S. Indicts Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, 9 Mexican Officials for Drug Trafficking

A U.S. indictment unsealed Wednesday in New York charged Sinaloa state Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

“NEW YORK -- The governor of Sinaloa and nine other current and former Mexican officials were charged with drug trafficking and weapons offenses in a U”

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The charges were announced in a news release by federal officials, and none of the defendants were in custody.

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The Associated Press said the 10 people charged in Manhattan federal court are current and former government or law enforcement officials in Sinaloa, including Rocha Moya, 76, who has been governor since November 2021.

ABC7 Los Angeles described the indictment as alleging that Rocha and other played “essential roles” helping the Sinaloa drug cartel ship fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton told reporters that the Sinaloa cartel is “a ruthless criminal organization that has flooded this community with dangerous drugs for decades,” and he added that the cartel “would not operate as freely or successfully without corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials on their payroll.”

The indictment also says the defendants allegedly collectively received “millions of dollars” in drug money from the faction of the cartel run by the Chapitos, the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

In the same set of allegations, ABC7 Los Angeles said the indictment described Juan Valenzuela Millan, a high-level commander in the Culiacan Municipal Police, receiving “more than $1,600 every month” from the Chapitos in exchange for using the Culiacan Municipal Police to carry out arrests, kidnapings and murder.

Prosecutors’ allegations, as described across outlets, portray a system in which Mexican officials allegedly provided protection and information to the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel while receiving drug money and bribes.

NBC News said federal prosecutors alleged the defendants cooperated with the cartel in a way that allowed cartel members to carry out “brutal drug-related violence” with impunity, and it quoted prosecutors saying, “In exchange, the defendants have collectively received millions of dollars in drug money from the Cartel.”

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NBC News also described the Chapitos as “led by the sons of notorious former leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán,” and it said Guzmán was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and sentenced to life in prison following his subsequent drug conspiracy conviction.

ABC7 Los Angeles added that the indictment said the defendants allegedly collectively received “millions of dollars” from the Chapitos, and it described a specific payment arrangement for Juan Valenzuela Millan, who allegedly received “more than $1,600 every month” for using the Culiacan Municipal Police to carry out arrests, kidnapings and murder.

ABC7 Los Angeles further alleged that in October 2023, Millan helped the Chapitos kidnap a DEA confidential source and the source’s relative, who was then tortured and killed.

NBC News provided additional details about alleged payments, saying “One law enforcement official is alleged to have received $11,000 a month from the Chapitos,” and that “a high-level police commander is also alleged to have accepted $41,000 in monthly bribes.”

NBC News said prosecutors alleged that in return the cartel had “full access to the intelligence, operations, and resources” of the department, including “police patrol cars and radios.”

The indictment also described a major trafficking attempt, with NBC News saying that in one instance in May 2022, federal prosecutors alleged the cartel tried to traffic about “189,000 fentanyl pills, 2 kilograms of fentanyl powder, half a kilogram of cocaine and 15 pounds of methamphetamine into the U.S.” and that law enforcement later seized the quantity in Phoenix.

Rocha Moya and other accused officials rejected the U.S. allegations, framing the indictment as political and tied to Mexico’s governing party and sovereignty.

“10 current and former Mexican officials accused in US indictment of aiding drug trafficking NEW YORK (AP) — The governor of Sinaloa and nine other current and former Mexican officials were charged with drug trafficking and weapons offenses in a U”

Associated Press

The BBC said Rocha Moya “categorically” denied any wrongdoing and that the indictment claims elected leaders “conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics into the United States in exchange for political support and bribes.”

In response, the BBC reported that the Mexican government released a statement saying the U.S. documents requesting arrest and potential extradition lacked sufficient evidence, and it quoted the foreign ministry’s position that the documents “do not include the elements of proof.”

The Guardian reported that Rocha Moya wrote on X that he “categorically and unequivocally reject[s]” the charges, describing them as “completely untrue and without any basis,” and it repeated his argument that the case is “part of a perverse strategy to violate (Mexico’s) constitutional order, specifically on national sovereignty.”

CBS News said Rocha Moya, the highest-profile official charged, wrote that he “categorically and absolutely” rejects the charges and called them an “attack,” adding that he wrote, “We will show them that this slander doesn't have any sort of foundation.”

ABC7 Los Angeles quoted Rocha Moya’s denial as well, saying he “categorically and completely rejects” the accusations as baseless and called them an “attack” on Mexico’s ruling party and its leaders.

NBC News said Rocha Moya did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but it reported that he told people on X that he “categorically and absolutely” denies the accusations and wrote, “To the people of Sinaloa, I say, with the bravery and the dignity that characterize us, we will demonstrate the lack of substance of this slander.”

The Guardian also captured a broader political dispute, reporting that Sheinbaum questioned the U.S. ambassador’s comments, saying, “An ambassador cannot have an interventionist attitude,” and adding, “We will not allow any foreign government to come and decide the future of the Mexican people.”

Mexico’s response, as described by multiple outlets, centered on whether the U.S. provided enough evidence and on a refusal to treat the case as foreign interference.

The Guardian said Sheinbaum told reporters, “We will not cover up for anyone who has committed a crime,” but she added that “if there is no clear evidence, it is evident that the objective of these charges by the Department of Justice is political.”

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Newsday reported that Sheinbaum said she wouldn’t let foreign governments meddle in Mexico’s affairs to serve their own political purposes, and it quoted her: “If it is evident that the Justice Department’s charges are politically motivated, let there be absolutely no doubt: under no circumstances will we allow a foreign government to interfere in decisions that are the exclusive prerogative of the Mexican people.”

Los Angeles Times reported that Sheinbaum declared Mexico would not comply with Washington’s demands that the accused be arrested and extradited, saying, “We are not permitting a foreign government to say what is the future of Mexico.”

Courthouse News said Sheinbaum told reporters, “We are not going to cover anyone who has committed a crime, however, if there is no clear evidence, it is clear that the purpose of these charges by the Department of Justice is political,” and it quoted her explanation that “There has to be evidence.”

Courthouse News also reported that Sheinbaum said she and Rocha Moya spoke on the telephone Wednesday, with the president telling the governor that “there is nothing to fear and that everything will proceed according to the rule of law.”

The Associated Press said Mexico’s government received multiple extradition requests from the U.S. without identifying those requested, and it did not say how it would respond.

BBC and Newsday both described Mexico’s internal process, with BBC saying the decision would lie with the Attorney General’s office and Newsday saying Mexico’s attorney general’s office would investigate whether there is enough evidence to back the U.S. claims.

The indictment and the diplomatic dispute set up a sequence of legal and political steps that multiple outlets described, including Mexico’s need to handle immunity and the possibility of detention and extradition.

BBC reported that Mexico’s attorney general’s office said it would analyze the evidence received from the U.S. to see whether it justified the request to detain and extradite, and it said the attorney general’s office would also start its own parallel investigation.

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Courthouse News said Attorney General’s Office spokesperson Ulises Lara López told reporters that in the case of governors and senators, “it is required to initiate an impeachment proceeding to obtain a declaration that removes procedural immunity,” and it added that before a detention request before a judge.

Newsday similarly reported that Sheinbaum said Mexican prosecutors would investigate and gather their own information to see whether there is enough evidence to back the U.S. claims.

The Hill said the indictment unsealed Wednesday as part of a Trump administration crackdown and described the potential penalties, stating that Rocha Moya faces charges that could result in life imprisonment or a mandatory minimum of 40 years behind bars if convicted.

ABC7 Los Angeles and CBS News both described the potential sentencing exposure, with AP reporting that if convicted he could face life in prison or a mandatory minimum of 40 years behind bars.

The U.S. side also framed the case as part of an anti-corruption and anti-cartel effort, with BBC quoting DEA Administrator Terrance Cole saying, “The Sinaloa Cartel is not just trafficking deadly drugs, it is a designated terrorist organization that relies on corruption and bribery to drive violence and profit.”

In parallel, the U.S. ambassador’s statement emphasized shared priorities, with ABC7 Los Angeles quoting Ron Johnson: “Combating corruption and transnational criminal activity is a shared priority for the United States and Mexico.”