Morena leader cites Mexican investigations after U.S. allegations

Reporting and context

Morena’s national leader, Ariadna Montiel, said the party will rely on investigations by Mexican authorities after the U.S. Treasury Department linked Rafael Buenrostro Martín to the Los Mayitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. El Diario de Juárez reported that Buenrostro is described in the source as an operator of Julieta Ramírez, Morena’s expected candidate for governor of Baja California, and that the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had identified him in connection with organized-crime allegations.

Montiel said Morena would not protect anyone found responsible, whether a rank-and-file member or an officeholder. She also said the party would not treat allegations from another government as established facts and that Mexican authorities and the judiciary should conduct the relevant investigations.

According to El Diario de Juárez, the U.S. Treasury alleged that Buenrostro acted as a “political influence liaison” in exchange for bribes benefiting the criminal operations of José Ángel Rivera Zazueta, whom the source described as a major Sinaloa Cartel operator in Baja California. The article said Buenrostro was present among supporters at an event for Ramírez days after she was named Morena’s prospective candidate. Montiel said candidates would face internal party screening and additional reviews ahead of the 2027 election. These claims remain attributed to the U.S. government, the Mexican officials and the outlet cited by the report.