President Claudia Sheinbaum urged Senator Enrique Inzunza and nine other officials under investigation to request leave from their positions on Monday.
The request comes as the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) continues probing high-ranking individuals for alleged ties to the Los Chapitos cartel. The situation signals a high-pressure moment for the Mexican administration as it balances domestic governance with international legal scrutiny.
Sheinbaum said that those under investigation should respect the law and make a free decision before the public. "Each person has a decision," Sheinbaum said.
Among those under scrutiny is interim Governor of Sinaloa Rubén Rocha Moya. The investigation involves a total of 10 Mexican officials [1]. Sheinbaum said that Mexican banking institutions have preventively frozen the accounts of Rocha Moya and nine other implicated individuals [2].
The probe follows signals of interest from the U.S. government. Sheinbaum said that when the U.S. Department of Justice requests extradition or detention, it must present evidence according to extradition law and the Mexican accusatory criminal system.
Reports on the status of U.S. involvement vary. Some reports indicate the U.S. government has not yet sent specific details regarding a detention request for Rocha Moya, while other reports suggest the freezing of accounts implies an active request for extradition or detention [3, 4].
Sheinbaum said that the officials involved must decide whether to remain in their posts while the FGR processes continue. The administration has not mandated the leaves, framing the move as a matter of personal and professional ethics for the officials involved.
“"Each person has a decision."”
This development highlights the tension between Mexico's sovereignty and U.S. judicial pressure regarding organized crime. By suggesting that officials request leave rather than removing them, Sheinbaum is attempting to maintain a veneer of due process while acknowledging the political volatility of the Los Chapitos investigation. The freezing of bank accounts suggests that the FGR is acting on high-level intelligence, potentially preparing for formal charges or extradition requests from the U.S. Department of Justice.
