The U.S. Set Off a Corruption Scandal That Is Gripping Mexico
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Rubén Rocha Moya, governor of Sinaloa, has faced longstanding accusations of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel, a major drug trafficking organization linked to fentanyl distribution and violence.
- The allegations intensified in 2024 after the U.S. arrested the cartel’s co-founder, who claimed he was en route to meet Mr. Rocha, but Mexican leaders, including then-president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, publicly defended Rocha.
- A recent U.S. indictment detailed years of collusion involving Mr. Rocha, the Sinaloa Cartel, and nine other officials, accusing them of exchanging bribes and votes for protection from prosecution.
- The charges have sparked a political crisis in Mexico, polarizing public opinion between those demanding accountability for corruption and others condemning perceived U.S. interference.
 { path { fill: %23EEEFE9 } })