Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on May 21, 2026, that the
governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya, is now subject to an Interpol red
notice, after US authorities requested his international arrest for alleged
ties to organized crime.
The measure was initiated by the New York Attorney General's
Office, which accuses Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Sinaloan
officials of allegedly collaborating with “Los Chapitos,” a faction of the
Sinaloa Cartel. According to the investigation, the individuals allegedly
participated in a network of political and operational protection for the
criminal organization.
The charges against them include conspiracy to traffic drugs
into the United States, possession of weapons restricted to the military, and
alleged agreements with cartel members in exchange for political support,
financing, and bribes.
The Interpol red notice allows authorities in different
countries to locate and provisionally arrest the accused if they leave Mexico,
while legal proceedings and corresponding international requests are underway.
The case has generated a strong political impact due to
Rocha Moya's prominence within the Morena party and the implications of a
possible connection between public officials and drug trafficking organizations
in Sinaloa.