Mexico’s ‘untouchables’ are politicians tied to cartels

In 1931, Eliot Ness and a group of incorruptible agents, known as the “untouchables,” brought down Al Capone’s criminal empire in Chicago. Today, from the other side of the border, Mexico seems to be writing the reverse story, defending and protecting alleged drug traffickers.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced an indictment against Ruben Rocha, Mexican Senator Enrique Inzunza, Culiacan Mayor Juan de Dios Gamez and seven other current and former Mexican officials for allegedly conspiring with the Sinaloa Cartel to import massive quantities of drugs into the U.S. in exchange for political support and bribes.

The 10 politicians indicted by the U.S. enjoy institutional protection from the Mexican government. They are not being extradited — in this very different sense of the word, they are “untouchables.” 

President Claudia Sheinbaum has established a kind of 10 commandments that protect the former and current officials of her Morena party who are wanted by U.S. justice. The number one argument is that, according to Sheinbaum, there is not enough evidence. For 34 days, she has said there is no reason for an urgent arrest and extradition in the Rocha Moya case.

Faced with the weakness of this argument, though, the Mexican government is now resorting to emotional appeals. The new narrative claims that handing over those accused of drug trafficking is a........

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