DEA INFORMANT CLAIMS CARTEL FUNDED LÓPEZ OBRADOR’S 2006 CAMPAIGN; WHITE HOUSE CALLS CARTEL-GOVERNMENT LINKS “INTOLERABLE”
According to the article in El Universal, by journalist Carlos Loret de Mola, a growing list of current and former U.S. officials are publicly expressing concern over alleged ties between Mexican political leaders and drug cartels. The latest remarks follow a ProPublica report citing DEA-protected witness testimony that Sinaloa Cartel operatives contributed $2 million to the 2006 presidential campaign of now-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Additional allegations were made during the U.S. trial of Genaro García Luna, Mexico’s former security chief, in which Jesús “El Rey” Zambada testified that up to $7 million were funneled to Morena campaigns. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DEA nominee Terry Cole, have repeatedly said that cartel influence extends deep into the Mexican political system.
Former President Trump and members of his administration—including border czar Tom Homan and current Vice President JD Vance—have claimed that drug cartels hold “tremendous control” over Mexico. Trump has cited the situation as a key reason for harsh border policies and military-style efforts to halt fentanyl trafficking.
The White House issued a statement in February 2025 accusing the Mexican government of providing “safe haven” to drug trafficking organizations. Diplomatic tensions have intensified following the cancellation of a U.S. visa for the Baja California governor, as well as the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada without coordination from Mexican authorities. Allegations continue to mount, including a Treasury Department claim that a top official in López Obrador’s administration laundered money for the Sinaloa Cartel.
