The Mexican government has issued a strong rebuttal to a significant U.S. indictment revealed on Wednesday, which accuses the governor of Sinaloa and ten other senior officials of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel in a deadly drug trafficking scheme.
Following the U.S. announcement of charges that claim corrupt officials shielded cartel leaders, facilitated fentanyl shipments to the U.S., and were involved in the torture and murder of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) informant, Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) responded by asserting that the U.S. has not provided sufficient evidence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York alleges that these officials received millions in bribes from the “Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, enabling the cartel to operate freely and turning the region into a major hub for the global narcotics trade.
In a public statement, Mexico’s SRE confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Mexico received extradition requests on Tuesday night. However, following a legal review, the Mexican government stated that the documents from the U.S. “lack evidentiary elements” necessary to hold the officials accountable for the purported crimes.
The indictment from the U.S. claims that the governor of Sinaloa and ten other high-ranking officials are linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. (Solidago/Getty Images)
The SRE indicated that it has passed these requests to Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office, which will assess the evidence to determine whether there is a legal basis to arrest and extradite the officials under Mexican law.
The cartel bust has sparked immediate diplomatic friction between the two nations, with Mexico criticizing U.S. officials’ decision to publicly announce the indictments. Mexican officials said existing bilateral treaties mandate strict confidentiality.
President Donald Trump talks to the media near the White House about his strategy to combat illegal drug flow into the U.S. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
In response, the Mexican government said it is sending a formal diplomatic reprimand called an “extrañamiento” to the U.S. Embassy to formally protest how the charges were publicized.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson said the embassy “takes note” of the unsealing of criminal charges against Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya and others.
“Combating corruption and transnational criminal activity is a shared priority for the United States and Mexico,” Johnson wrote. “Our countries have pledged to strengthen transparency, enforce anti-corruption laws, and uphold the rule of law. This is what our citizens on both sides of the border want, and, as I have said repeatedly, this is what they deserve.”
He added the U.S. will continue to work in close coordination with Mexico’s leadership to “advance accountability, strengthen institutions, and promote security and prosperity for our peoples.”
“We remain committed to a partnership grounded in mutual trust, shared responsibility, and the rule of law,” Johnson wrote. “While we cannot comment on the individual facts of these indictments, and the legal process will need to play out, one thing is certain: corruption that enables organized crime and harms both our countries will be investigated and prosecuted wherever U.S. jurisdiction applies.”
The White House and Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York declined comment.
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