Mexican governor, other officials charged with conspiring with Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle drugs into U.S.
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged current and former Mexican officials, including Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, with conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel to import drugs into the U.S. in exchange for bribes and political support.
- The indictment alleges these officials collaborated with the "Chapitos," sons of former cartel leader El Chapo, facilitating drug trafficking and brutal violence while receiving millions in drug money.
- Rocha Moya is accused of benefiting from cartel-backed election interference and pledging to allow cartel operations to continue with impunity, which he denies, calling the charges slander against his political movement.
- The cartel's operations included trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, with law enforcement officials receiving monthly bribes to protect cartel activities and share intelligence.
- The U.S. is seeking extradition of the accused from Mexico, where authorities will assess the evidence; U.S. prosecutors emphasized that officials cooperating with drug traffickers will be held accountable regardless of their position.
