The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the governor of Sinaloa and nine public officials with ties to drug trafficking and weapons-related crimes
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a formal indictment against the current Governor of Sinaloa and nine other public officials for collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as for providing support to the sons of “El Chapo.”
According to the official U.S. indictment, the Sinaloa state officials allegedly collaborated with the drug cartel—specifically with the “Chapitos” faction—through a system involving corruption, protection, and even operational support, in exchange for multi-million-dollar bribes.
How did the Sinaloa officials collaborate with the Chapitos?
The document constitutes a formal indictment detailing the drug trafficking ties between the public servants and their direct support for the sons of “El Chapo”—the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel—facilitated through various corrupt schemes that included multi-million-dollar bribes.
This collaboration aimed to secure government protection and even to provide security escorts for drug shipments, thereby facilitating the importation of massive quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States.
“The defendants allegedly conspired with leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel to import large quantities of narcotics into the United States in exchange for political support and bribes,” reads the document released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
List of Officials Indicted by the U.S.
Rubén Rocha Moya, Governor of Sinaloa
Enrique Inzunza Cazares, Senator and former Secretary General of Sinaloa
Enrique Díaz Vega, former Secretary of Administration and Finance of Sinaloa
Damaso Castro Saavedra, Deputy Attorney General of the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office
Marco Antonio Almanza Aviles, former Chief of Investigative Police at the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office
Alberto Jorge Contreras Núñez, alias “Cholo,” former Chief of Investigative Police at the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office
Gerardo Mérida Sánchez, former Secretary of Public Security of Sinaloa
José Antonio Dionisio Hipolito, also known as “Tornado,” former Deputy Director of the Sinaloa Police
Juan de Dios Gamez Mendivil, Mayor of Culiacán
Juan Valenzuela Milán, alias “Juanito,” former high-ranking commander in the Culiacán Municipal Police
According to the indictment, the officials aided the “Los Chapitos” faction by abusing their authority and official positions to facilitate drug trafficking and participate in acts of violence.
Rubén Rocha Moya
In the document, he is identified as the political linchpin of the cartel’s protection network. It even mentions that he was elected to his office in June 2021 with the direct support of “Los Chapitos.”
According to the document, during a meeting held that same year, he met with the then-leaders, Iván and Ovidio Guzmán; during this meeting, the official promised to appoint individuals sympathetic to drug trafficking to high-ranking government positions.
“At the meeting—which was guarded by cartel hitmen armed with machine guns and other weapons—Iván and Ovidio promised that Los Chapitos would ensure Rocha Moya won the gubernatorial election. In exchange, Rocha Moya promised the Los Chapitos leaders that, if elected, he would ensure that officials sympathetic to Los Chapitos’ drug trafficking interests held positions of authority within the Sinaloa government,” the document states.
Enrique Inzunza Cázarez
He met with the faction’s leaders to arrange protection and support for the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for favors. This not only facilitated criminal activities on behalf of the cartel, but also enabled the defendants—as well as other officials—to remain in power.
“He met with the leaders of Los Chapitos and other cartel leaders, and agreed upon specific plans whereby the government of Sinaloa—under the administration of ROCHA MOYA—would support and protect the cartel in exchange for favors that, in turn, would help the defendants… to remain in power.”
Enrique Díaz Vega
The former Secretary of Administration and Finance allegedly provided “Los Chapitos” with the names and addresses of Rocha Moya’s opponents so that the group could threaten them and force them to withdraw before the elections.
“Díaz handed over to the leaders of Los Chapitos a list of Rocha Moya’s opponents and their addresses, so that they could intimidate them and force them to withdraw from the electoral race.”
Dámaso Castro Zaavedra
The Deputy Attorney General received monthly bribes amounting to thousands of dollars in exchange for advance information regarding police operations involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“In exchange, Zaavedra protected members of Los Chapitos from arrest and informed them of planned police operations supported by the United States.”
Marco Antonio Almanza Avilés
In the case of the former Chief of Investigative Police, he received approximately $16,000 per month in bribes. According to the document, he allowed the cartel to operate freely by granting safe passage to vehicles transporting fentanyl through Culiacán.
Alberto Jorge Contreras Núñez, alias “Cholo”
He participated in a conspiracy to import narcotics and is also charged with the possession of machine guns and explosive devices.
Gerardo Mérida Sánchez
The State Secretary of Public Security accepted monthly bribes of $100,000, allegedly in exchange for providing warnings about raids on drug laboratories, thereby allowing them to be evacuated before the authorities arrived.
“He accepted more than $100,000 in monthly cash bribes from Los Chapitos. In exchange, Sánchez didn’t interfere with their drug trafficking operations.”
José Antonio Dionisio Hipólito, alias “Tornado”
He received bribes of approximately $6,000 per month. He provided protection to cartel members carrying drugs or weapons, in addition to selling ammunition and magazines for assault rifles. He also ordered the alteration of arrest records to make it appear that the criminals were unarmed, thereby facilitating their release.
Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil
The Mayor of Culiacán allegedly received more than $10,000 per month. The accusations allege that he allowed “Los Chapitos” to operate in the state capital “without government interference” and provided protection by preventing arrests by the municipal police.
Juan Valenzuela Millán, alias “Juanito”
He is the official linked to the most direct acts of violence. He allegedly received $41,000 per month for himself and other officers. Among the accusations, it is notably alleged that he granted “total access to the intelligence, operations, and resources of the municipal police.”
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