By Raul Castillo
The Government of Mexico will formally protest to the United States over the public dissemination of the accusation presented against the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, and nine other officials, considering that the information was released without evidence to support the allegations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported this Wednesday that it has already received the requests for provisional detention for extradition purposes sent by Washington. These documents, he explained, will be sent to the Fundamental Prosecutor’s Office of the Republicwhich must determine if there are sufficient elements to proceed.
However, The Foreign Ministry stressed that the files delivered by the US authorities do not include accompanying evidence.
“No evidence is attached to the documents,” he said in a statement. while recalling that this type of requests must be handled under strict confidentiality in accordance with current bilateral treaties.
Therefore, Mexico will send a diplomatic letter to the United States Embassy due to the way in which the case It was disclosed before the institutional channels provided for in the agreements between both countries were exhausted.
The US accusation
The reaction is fabricated after the United States Department of Justice revealed a criminal indictment in New York against Rocha Moya and other senior Sinaloan officials for alleged crimes of drug trafficking and arms trafficking.
The American authorities They are accused of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel, particularly with the faction known as Los Chapitos.
According to the accusation, those involved they would have facilitated operations of the legal group through the delivery of just staunch information, institutional protection and logistical support for the transfer of drugs to US territory, in exchange for million-dollar bribes.
The accused also include the former Secretary of Public Security of Sinaloa, Gerardo Mérida Sánchez; the mayor of Culiacán, Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil; and the former commander of the municipal police of that city, Juan Valenzuela Millán, in addition to other state and security commanders.
Rocha rejects the accusations
Rocha Moya categorically rejected the charges. In a message spread on social networks, he assured that the accusations “lack any veracity or foundation.” and maintained that he will prove his innocence “with all force” at the appropriate time.
The governor described the case as an attack not only against his personbut also against the political movement of the Fourth Transformation and the sovereignty of Mexico. He stated that the accusation is part of a strategy to violate the country’s constitutional order.
For its part, the United States Embassy in Mexico defended the actions of the US authorities. Although he avoided commenting on specific details of the process, he reiterated that the fight against corruption linked to organized crime will continue to be a priority.
“Corruption that facilitates organized crime and harms both countries will be investigated and prosecuted” when US jurisdiction exists, said the diplomatic representation, which also reaffirmed its willingness to continue cooperating with Mexico in matters of security, transparency and the rule of law.