The Fiscalía General de la República documented Sinaloa Cartel control over resources and police in at least 11 Morelos municipalities. A former mayor testified about threats directed at the governor, who rejected them.
The FGR detailed in case FED/FEMDO/FEITATA-SIN/0000174/2025 that the Sinaloa Cartel took control of municipalities including Cuautla and Atlatlahucan. Mayors Jesús Corona Damián and Agustín Toledano Amaro placed human, material and public security resources at the group's disposal.
In criminal case 170/2026, former Cuautla mayor Raúl Tadeo Nava testified on May 6 that Júpiter Araujo Benard, alias El Barbas, ordered him to deliver an ultimatum to Governor Margarita González Saravia. The message demanded free passage for drugs and budget control in exchange for pacifying the state.
The Morelos government denied that the governor received threats or pacts. Judicial documents confirm no proof exists that the message was delivered. The investigation led to arrests of officials and arrest warrants for 11 people.
