After keeping them under wraps for five years, Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) announced it will disclose the provisional detention requests with extradition purposes filed by the United States against Rubén Rocha, the governor on leave of Sinaloa, and other officials from the state accused of drug trafficking.

The announcement came through social media, where the SRE emphasized its commitment to transparency, citing instructions from Mexico City’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum. However, the ministry clarified that diplomatic notes related to judicial files will remain confidential due to their reserved nature.

This move follows revelations that the SRE had withheld information about its communications with the U.S. government regarding extradition requests against Rocha Moya, Senator Enrique Inzunza, and other officials for half a decade. The ministry had justified the secrecy by arguing that releasing the details could undermine Mexico’s international relations. Similarly, the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) kept Rocha’s testimony under seal for five years.

The U.S. Department of Justice has linked high-ranking Sinaloa officials, including Governor Rocha, to drug trafficking and arms offenses connected to the Sinaloa Cartel and the faction known as Los Chapitos. According to the indictment, these officials allegedly protected cartel operations by providing sensitive information and facilitating drug shipments into the United States in exchange for multimillion-dollar bribes.

For migrants and residents in Mexico, this disclosure marks a significant step toward governmental transparency in cases involving corruption and organized crime. It also highlights the ongoing challenges Mexico faces in addressing cartel influence within political structures. The timing of this release, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, may open new discussions about accountability and the role of state institutions in combating narcotrafficking.