On April 30, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a formal indictment against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine other Mexican officials, including both active and retired personnel, on charges related to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the defendants conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics—including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine—in exchange for bribes and political support. U.S. authorities identified the accused as key collaborators with the cartel faction led by the sons of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán.
The list of indicted officials includes Senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez; former Secretary of Administration and Finance Enrique Díaz Vega; Deputy Attorney Dámaso Castro Saavedra; Commissioner General of the Investigative Police Marco Antonio Almanza Avilés; former Commissioner Alberto Jorge Contreras Núñez; former Secretary of Public Security Gerardo Mérida Sánchez; State Preventive Police Commander José Dionisio Hipólito; Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil; and Municipal Police Commander Juan Valenzuela Millán.
During her morning press conference on April 30, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo stated that any legal action would depend on the presentation of irrefutable evidence. “We are not going to cover up anyone who has committed a crime; however, if clear evidence does not exist, it is evident that the objective of these indictments by the Department of Justice is political,” the President stated. Sheinbaum emphasized that the Attorney General's Office (FGR) will evaluate the information, but stressed that she will not permit foreign interference in sovereign decisions, reminding that Mexico maintains a relationship of equals with other nations.
The President also contrasted this case with the lack of resolution regarding other bilateral security issues. “The Chihuahua matter has not been clarified,” she declared, referring to an incident in which CIA agents were involved in an operation in that state and died in a car accident. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) confirmed it has received extradition requests and announced it will issue a formal protest to the U.S. Embassy for violating the confidentiality of the information.
Ignacio Mier Velazco, Chair of the Senate's Political Coordination Board, warned that international cooperation must strictly adhere to institutional channels and the existing Extradition Treaty. “Public accusations and the dissemination of information without legal basis are not enough; formal requests are required, which must be properly substantiated and accompanied by sufficient evidence,” Mier noted. The legislator emphasized that any action outside these frameworks lacks legal validity and violates national sovereignty.
Analysts cited by Bloomberg via El Financiero suggest this case places the Sheinbaum administration at a diplomatic crossroads, particularly given the potential for tensions with the Donald Trump administration. A refusal to cooperate could escalate economic friction, while the immediate surrender of the officials would be viewed as a betrayal by the hardline wing of the Morena party. The case has taken on a domestic political dimension due to Governor Rocha Moya's closeness to figures such as Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, Morena's Secretary of Organization, with whom the governor shared public appearances and photographs in early 2025.
