A former commander of the Culiacán Municipal Police allegedly kidnapped and murdered an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and a relative of that individual, in a case where U.S. authorities accuse high-ranking officials—including current political leaders in Sinaloa—of collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel and facilitating the trafficking of drugs into the United States.
Juan Valenzuela Millán, the former Municipal Police commander, faces charges of conspiracy to traffic narcotics, possession of weapons and explosives, as well as kidnapping resulting in death.
The indictment alleges that Millán received monthly payments of over $1,600 (more than 28,000 pesos) from the “Chapitos” faction of the cartel in exchange for providing protection and granting access to the police force.
U.S. federal authorities state that in October 2023, Millán allegedly leveraged his authority within the police department to coordinate the kidnapping of a confidential DEA informant and a relative of that individual; both victims were subsequently tortured and murdered. The motive was reportedly the suspicion that they were collaborating with U.S. authorities in the investigation against the Sinaloa Cartel.
