Justice Department officials expanded their campaign against the Sinaloa Cartel on Wednesday, announcing federal prosecutors had charged nine Mexican government officials with aiding the infamous drug trafficking organization.
Among those charged is the governor of the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
"The Sinaloa Cartel, and other drug trafficking organizations like it, would not operate as freely or successfully without corrupt politicians and law enforcement officials on their payroll," Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement. "The support of corrupt foreign officials for deadly trafficking of drugs must end. Let these charges send a clear message to all officials around the globe who work with narco-traffickers."
According to the federal indictment, Mexican state government officials "participated" in cartel operations by shielding drug traffickers "from investigation, arrest, and prosecution" and protecting drug shipments in exchange for "millions of dollars in drug money from the Cartel."
Mexican officials named in the indictment denied the charges "categorically and absolutely."
