US indicts Sinaloa governor and officials for drug trafficking

The US Justice Department has charged Rubén Rocha Moya, the sitting governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, along with nine other current and former officials, with aiding the Sinaloa cartel in narcotics trafficking and other crimes.

The indictment was filed in Manhattan federal court and alleges a conspiracy involving the importation of massive quantities of illicit narcotics into the United States.

Rocha Moya, who has been governor since November 2021 and is a member of the ruling Morena party, is accused of being elected with the cartel's support.

The indictment claims the cartel kidnapped and intimidated political rivals to secure protection for its operations once in power.

Charges against the governor include narcotics importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and another conspiracy count.

If convicted, Rocha Moya could face life imprisonment or a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years.

The indictment also names nine other officials, including a high-ranking policeman, a senator, and a mayor, all alleged to have conspired with the cartel.

The US ambassador to Mexico emphasized the shared priority of combating transnational crime and enforcing anti-corruption laws.

The Mexican government has disputed the sufficiency of the evidence presented by the US, stating that the extradition requests lack necessary proof.

The attorney general's office will determine whether there is enough evidence to detain those charged.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has not yet commented on the indictment.

This development is significant as it involves a sitting governor from the ruling party being formally charged by US authorities for collaboration with a major drug trafficking organisation.

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