Sinaloa Governor and Nine Mexican Officials Charged in U.S. Drug Trafficking Indictment

Federal prosecutors in New York have charged the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, and nine other current and former Mexican officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses, alleging their involvement in large-scale narcotics importation into the United States. The indictment, unsealed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, accuses the defendants of aiding the Sinaloa Cartel by providing protection, sensitive law enforcement information, and facilitating drug shipments, according to U.S. officials.

Among those charged are a Mexican senator, the mayor of Culiacan, a Sinaloa state deputy attorney general, a former Sinaloa secretary of public security, and a former deputy director of the Sinaloa State Police. The indictment alleges that the officials received millions of dollars from the cartel in exchange for shielding its leaders from investigation and prosecution, and for allowing cartel-related violence to occur without consequence. U.S. authorities said the group was closely aligned with the “Los Chapitos” faction, led by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Rocha, who has served as governor since November 2021, faces charges including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. If convicted, he could face life in prison or a mandatory minimum of 40 years. Rocha has publicly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and an attack on Mexico’s ruling party.

None of the defendants are currently in U.S. custody. Mexican officials confirmed they have received multiple extradition requests from the United States but have not disclosed how they will respond or identified the individuals named in those requests. The case remains under investigation by U.S. authorities.