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Sinaloa official surrenders in Arizona as Mexico freezes bank accounts of accused leaders

Grey brick building with Department of Justice written on it and American flag flying
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The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC.

A former Mexican state security official indicted by the United States on drug trafficking charges has turned himself in to authorities in Arizona.

That comes as Mexico freezes the bank accounts of all 10 former and current public officials charged with drug trafficking.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the bank accounts of the Sinaloa officials have been frozen as a preventative measure — because of the banks’ relationship with banks in the United States — rather than because of any domestic investigation.

A U.S. court accuses the public officials, who include Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya, of accepting bribes from the Sinaloa cartel. Rocha Moya is on leave from his post, but has said he is innocent.

Another accused Sinaloa official, the former state public security secretary, was arrested in Arizona last week after he turned himself in. Court records show he appeared in court in New York on Friday.

Sheinbaum told reporters Monday that U.S. officials, including drug czar Sara Carter and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, will visit Mexico in the coming weeks.

More news from KJZZ's Hermosillo Bureau

Nina Kravinsky is a senior field correspondent covering stories about Sonora and the border from the Hermosillo, Mexico, bureau of KJZZ’s Fronteras Desk.