Mexico Denies Evidence Linking Maduro to Sinaloa Cartel

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly denied any evidence or investigations linking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to the Sinaloa Cartel, contradicting recent claims by the U.S. government. The allegations from the U.S., including a doubled $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest on drug trafficking charges, came as a surprise to Mexico, with Sheinbaum stating it was the first time she had heard of such accusations. She emphasized that Mexico has no proof of these claims and called on the U.S. to present evidence if available. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil dismissed the U.S. announcement as a baseless diversion. The U.S. under President Donald Trump's administration has labeled the Sinaloa Cartel and other criminal groups as global terrorist organizations and accused Maduro of being a major narco-trafficker with ties to transnational gangs. Despite these U.S. assertions, Mexico continues to maintain diplomatic relations with Venezuela and rejects the allegations due to lack of supporting evidence.