Mexico Complains to the US Over the Leak of Rocha Moya Charges

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) released three important documents to the public regarding the temporary arrest and extradition requests made by the US for the licensed Governor of Sinaloa state, Rubén Rocha Moya, and nine former and current officials. Among the disclosed documents are an official complaint letter sent to the US Embassy, a communication file summarizing the Mexican government's diplomatic stance, and a list of charges prepared by the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the Southern District of New York. The emergence of this information came after a citizen's request for information led to the revelation that the ministry had decided to keep the diplomatic correspondence secret for five years. However, the ministry emphasized that diplomatic notes regarding judicial files remain confidential due to their nature and will continue to be protected. Thus, the Mexican administration demonstrated that while fulfilling transparency demands, it also sought to protect the sensitivity of diplomatic negotiations.

The most striking element among the documents released by the ministry was the official correspondence dated 30 April and coded ASJ-22632. In this correspondence, the General Directorate of Legal Affairs of the SRE expressed its concern over the New York Prosecutor's Office publicly releasing the charges and the suspects' names a day earlier. Mexican authorities argued that such information is extremely sensitive for judicial processes and that its leak could lead to serious problems. It was noted that sharing such details, especially before the individuals in question are detained and official extradition procedures are initiated, could violate the suspects' right to a fair trial. The Mexican government evaluated this situation as an interference that would cause harm to an ongoing legal process.

The diplomatic note sent by Mexico reminds that the US side had previously made a clear commitment in its communications to keep information regarding extradition and arrest requests confidential. The SRE determined that the New York Prosecutor's announcement violated this confidentiality agreement and hindered the Mexican government from taking necessary confidentiality measures. In this context, Mexico made an official call to the US Department of Justice, requesting that it issue the necessary instructions for federal prosecutors to strictly adhere to such commitments and diplomatic protocols in future processes. It was emphasized that preserving mutual trust is essential for the healthy conduct of legal cooperation between the two countries. Otherwise, it was stated that similar diplomatic crises could further strain security cooperation between the two nations.

According to the indictment prepared by the New York Prosecutor's Office, a total of ten individuals, including Rocha Moya, face very serious charges. Among the names are high-level politicians such as Senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez and Culiacán Mayor Juan de Dios Gámez Mendívil. The suspects are accused of conspiring to import drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the US. Additionally, it was reported that some suspects also face serious weapons charges, such as possessing machine guns and destructive devices. Among the information in the file, it was noted that a suspect named Juan Valenzuela Millán faces a charge of kidnapping resulting in death, and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifically emphasized that this is merely an accusation and not a final conviction.

Regarding the background of the incident, the Mexican government announced that the extradition requests from the US were forwarded to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the competent authority in the country. In accordance with Mexico's defense system, a clear stance is maintained that no judicial proceedings can be initiated without the presentation of sufficient and convincing evidence. The country stated that it is always open to cooperation with the US in the fields of justice and security, but that this cooperation depends on the condition of respecting its legal boundaries and sovereignty. During this process, President Claudia Sheinbaum's clear and decisive statement regarding the matter, "We will not protect anyone who commits a crime," was also included in the file. The Mexican administration once again declared to the whole world that it will strictly adhere to domestic legal rules and will not allow any external interference.