US Accuses Mexican Governor of Alleged Cartel Ties, Marking New Front in Drug War
MEXICO CITY, April 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday it had charged the governor of Mexico’s Sinaloa state, Ruben Rocha, and other officials for their alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel, in a significant escalation of U.S. anti-cartel action that is likely to increase tensions between the United States and Mexico. The Justice Department said Rocha and the others allegedly conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of narcotics into the U.S. in exchange for political support and bribes. Indictments against sitting senior Mexican politicians are extremely uncommon and the charges against Rocha appear to mark a new front in the U.S. fight against the cartels, expanding investigations beyond kingpins of the criminal groups to include politicians. Rocha’s indictment poses a problem for President Claudia Sheinbaum, particularly because they are both from the same ruling Morena party. Rocha is also an ally of Sheinbaum’s predecessor and mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. “Let these charges send a clear message to all officials around the globe who …



