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US DOJ accuses Sinaloa governor, officials of drug trafficking; claims cartel helped secure election
🇲🇽 Mexico /Crime & Justice

US DOJ accuses Sinaloa governor, officials of drug trafficking; claims cartel helped secure election

From El Universal · (17m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The U.S. Department of Justice accused Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and other officials of drug trafficking and weapons possession.
  • The accusation alleges that in 2021, "Los Chapitos" leaders promised to ensure Rocha Moya's election victory in exchange for placing allies in government positions.
  • The indictment claims cartel members intimidated opponents, stole ballots, and influenced voters on election day, with state police instructed not to intervene.

A shocking accusation from the U.S. Department of Justice alleges a deep entanglement between Sinaloa's governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, and the powerful "Los Chapitos" cartel faction. The indictment, unsealed this Wednesday, paints a grim picture of the 2021 gubernatorial election, suggesting that cartel leaders directly intervened to ensure Rocha Moya's victory.

El Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos acusó este miércoles al gobernador de Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya; al alcalde de Culiacán, Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil, y a otros cargos y exfuncionarios del estado mexicano de delitos de narcotráfico y posesión de armas.

— El Universal (MX)Introduction of the US DOJ's accusations against Sinaloa officials.

According to the U.S. charges, leaders like Iván and Ovidio Guzmán López met with Rocha Moya during his campaign. They allegedly promised to "secure" his win in exchange for the governor appointing cartel-friendly officials to positions of power within the Sinaloa government. This alleged quid pro quo raises profound questions about the integrity of our state's political system and the extent of organized crime's influence.

A inicios de 2021, aproximadamente, Rubén Rocha Moya, el acusado, estaba en campaña para ser gobernador de Sinaloa.

— US DOJ IndictmentDetailing the timeline of Rocha Moya's campaign and alleged meetings with cartel leaders.

Furthermore, the accusation details a disturbing level of cartel control on election day itself. It claims that cartel members, acting on orders, intimidated opponents, stole ballots, and directed voters. Disturbingly, the indictment states that state police were instructed not to intervene, effectively allowing the cartel to operate with impunity. This alleged complicity by law enforcement, if proven, represents a severe betrayal of public trust and a critical failure to uphold the rule of law in Sinaloa. The implications for justice and governance in our state are immense.

Alrededor de ese tiempo, y antes de su elección en o alrededor de junio de 2021, ROCHA MOYA se reunió con los entonces líderes del Cártel, incluyendo a Iván y Ovidio.

— US DOJ IndictmentSpecifying the alleged meetings between Rocha Moya and 'Los Chapitos' leaders.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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