President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will require "irrefutable evidence" from U.S. authorities before acting on extradition requests linked to drug-trafficking charges against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine others. The U.S. Justice Department alleges the officials worked with the Sinaloa cartel to ship "massive quantities" of narcotics to the United States. Rocha Moya denied the accusations, calling them an attack on sovereignty. The indictment also links suspects to the Chapitos faction and cites brutal torture methods described in a 2023 filing.
Mexico Demands 'Irrefutable Evidence' Before Acting on U.S. Drug Charges Against Sinaloa Governor
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during her daily press conference, at the National Palace, in Mexico City, Mexico on April 30, 2026. / Credit: Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu via Getty Images
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said Thursday that Mexican authorities will require "irrefutable evidence" from U.S. officials before complying with any extradition requests tied to drug-trafficking charges against a state governor and other officials.
The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday announced an indictment naming Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine others, accusing them of collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel to ship "massive quantities" of narcotics into the United States. Rocha Moya is a member of the Morena party and a close ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador; the other accused officials are also associated with Morena.
Sheinbaum's Response
At her regular morning news conference, President Sheinbaum said Mexico's Office of the Attorney General must receive evidence that is "solid and irrefutable in accordance with Mexican law" before honoring any U.S. extradition request. She added that if such evidence is not provided or not found during Mexico's own investigations, it could indicate the accusations are politically motivated.
"We aren't going to protect anyone," Sheinbaum said, emphasizing that Mexico will act based on legal standards rather than on public accusations alone.
Sheinbaum also said that among the materials shared by U.S. authorities was a document purportedly detailing alleged bribe payments to some of the politicians named in the indictment.
Rocha Moya's Denial
In a post on X, Governor Rocha Moya said he "categorically and absolutely" rejects the charges, calling them an "attack" and part of a "perverse strategy" that threatens national sovereignty. He vowed to prove the accusations unfounded.
Allegations in the Indictment
The U.S. indictment alleges some accused officials were aligned with a Sinaloa cartel faction known as the Chapitos, run by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, who is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison. A related 2023 U.S. filing described brutal methods allegedly used by that faction against rivals, including electrocution, the use of corkscrews and hot chiles, and other graphic abuses cited by prosecutors.
Context
Rocha Moya had supported López Obrador's "Hugs, Not Bullets" policy, which emphasizes reducing confrontation with powerful cartels. López Obrador rose to prominence campaigning against endemic corruption in Mexican politics. Sheinbaum's insistence on legal standards reflects the sensitive balance between prosecuting alleged corruption and respecting national sovereignty and due process.
Mexico has not yet said whether it will accept any extradition requests; Sheinbaum made clear that any decision will depend on the quality of evidence presented and the findings of Mexico's own investigations.
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