US Targets Durango Governor Esteban Villegas Over Alleged Drug Cartel Ties

U.S. authorities are considering action against Durango Governor Esteban Villegas, accusing him of colluding with drug cartels to facilitate violence in the region. Mexican officials, unlike their cooperation on the case of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, have been described as less forthcoming, prompting U.S. officials to weigh a possible listing of Villegas with the DEA or the Department of Justice.

Sources say the investigation stems from intelligence linking the governor to criminal groups operating in the so‑called “golden triangle” of Sinaloa, Durango and Chihuahua, including factions of the Zambada clan. The federal security cabinet of President Claudia Sheinbaum is monitoring the situation, seeing a potential U.S. move as a political lever against opposition leaders. The decision, if taken, could intensify scrutiny of Mexican state officials and affect the federal‑state security dynamic.