In 2025, the book “The Fourth Transformation of Organized Crime” was published. The investigative work presented records, audio recordings and witness testimony alleging collusion between Mexican politicians and drug cartels, including Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya.

Authorities denied the allegations and dismissed the investigation, said journalist José Luis Montenegro, who co-authored the book with journalist Ricardo Ravelo.

"It was branded as false” and politically motivated, Montenegro told LatAm Journalism Review (LJR). "But that's also part of the federal government's narrative of always wanting to be right and discrediting its opponents without presenting evidence."

Journalist José Luis Montenegro said the book he co-authored about alleged ties between public officials and drug cartels was attacked and dismissed. (Photo: José Luis Montenegro on X)

For several years, Revista Espejo, a local news outlet in Sinaloa, had published investigations shedding light on irregularities that pointed to alleged ties between the state government and drug cartels. The authorities' response was the same.

"They never paid attention to us. Instead, we came under attack from the government, which dismissed our investigations and discredited what we were doing and saying," journalist Marcos Vizcarra, the outlet's deputy editorial director and the author of several of those investigations, told LJR.

In April, a U.S. court indicted Rocha Moya and nine other Sinaloa officials on drug trafficking-related charges. Those and other allegations filed in recent weeks in U.S. courts against Mexican politicians have caused a rift within the administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and appear to be the tip of the iceberg of a complex infiltration of political elites by drug cartels.

"The fact that judicial authorities tacitly validate your investigations gives them legitimacy," Montenegro said. "It gives you certainty and credibility as an author and as a journalist that your reporting is accurate and not something you made up."

The recent emergence of court records involving Mexican politicians has renewed attention on investigative reporting that was previously dismissed or attacked. For journalists who specialize in covering “narcopolitics” — the intersection of organized crime and politics — the moment presents an opportunity to rethink strategies for reporting on these issues, from the ethical use of leaked information and rigorous verification to collaborative reporting and security measures that help prevent journalists from becoming unwitting spokespeople for political or criminal interests.

Although neither reporting nor judicial proceedings alone determine the guilt or innocence of those involved, Montenegro said the fact that investigations by foreign authorities align with facts previously documented by journalists — and have generated public debate — is a great source of encouragement.

"It shows that long-term investigative reporting is worthwhile," Montenegro said. "Journalists have become watchdogs over those in public office. ... The government has provided plenty of raw material for investigations into corruption, impunity and drug trafficking."

Investigating without playing into the game

Some of the information behind recent investigative reports on alleged ties between politicians and drug cartels has come from leaks by U.S. authorities to news organizations. The journalists interviewed agreed that such leaks are a common feature of reporting on the nexus between organized crime and politics.

"I've had conversations, for example, with different U.S. security officials operating in Mexico, and they provide key information about the investigations they're conducting," Montenegro said. "They don't give you highly specific details, but they do give you a sense of what's coming."

A Los Angeles Times investigation, published simultaneously by members of the binational Puente News Collaborative, reported in late April that U.S. authorities were preparing a series of indictments against Mexican politicians days before charges against Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya were officially announced. Weeks later, the same news organizations published another investigation on alleged U.S. probes into two other Mexican governors. In both cases, the reporting was based on anonymous sources familiar with the judicial investigations.

Leaks are highly valuable and often unavoidable when covering narcopolitics because much of the activity takes place behind closed doors and under conditions of secrecy, said Óscar Balderas, a journalist who specializes in organized crime.

Journalist Marcos Vizcarra urged fellow reporters to consult local journalists to better understand the context of narcopolitics cases. (Photo: Marcos Vizcarra on X)

However, that kind of information should not be the sole basis of a news investigation, he said.

"Investigations into narcopoliticians, by their nature, involve confidential documents that, without them, we wouldn’t be able to learn the story," Balderas told LJR. "Leaks are often an excellent starting point for telling an important story."

Vizcarra said rigorous verification and on-the-ground reporting are essential to strengthening investigations that rely on leaked information. Otherwise, he said, journalists risk becoming messengers for one side or another.

"A leak is always something that someone wants to make public. By itself, it's not an investigation," Vizcarra said. "If all we do is report leaks, we allow ourselves to become someone's spokesperson, while also failing our readers."

Vizcarra said that to verify leaks and rumors involving the governor of Sinaloa, he has relied on sources ranging from public records to contacts at consulates and private companies. As with other corruption investigations, following the money is often one of the most effective strategies, he said.

"There are a great deal of local sources, from businesspeople and disgruntled politicians who had been warning about these kinds of things, to public records. There are things you can verify from anywhere in the world through Mexico's Public Registry of Commerce," Vizcarra said. "But it's also about going to the places, meeting with lots of people and having them tell me what's happening."

Vizcarra urged national and international news organizations to consult local journalists, who can provide the context needed to understand the relationship between organized crime and politics.

When using leaked information, it is also essential to be transparent with audiences by explaining how the information was obtained and whether it was independently verified, Balderas said. That includes clearly describing the newsroom's verification process and even acknowledging when independent verification was not possible.

"Readers should be able to see how we arrived at the conclusion that 'this leak is in the public interest,' or whether we're simply publishing it because we believe it's important for readers to evaluate it," Balderas said. “I think that kind of disclaimer is especially important right now.”

Montenegro said another way to strengthen investigative reporting is to publish stories simultaneously in at least three news outlets, as members of the Puente News Collaborative have done in recent cases.

"The more the story echoes across the journalism community, the harder it is for the government to dismiss an investigation or a report of this magnitude," Montenegro said. "Having support and protection on multiple fronts gives you greater credibility and delivers a powerful strike in defense of press freedom."

Best practices for covering narcopolitics

Investigating the relationship between organized crime and politics requires more than reporting individual cases. It is also necessary to understand how criminal systems operate as a whole, Balderas said — and collaborating with academics is one of the best ways to develop that broader perspective.

"It's not just about reporting that a mayor suddenly acquired a large number of properties and is allegedly linked to organized crime," he said. "It's about explaining how organized crime expands through institutions in a particular region and what mechanisms can help us better understand that process. I think theoretical frameworks are something we as journalists still need to develop much more."

Journalist Óscar Balderas emphasized the importance of transparency when reporting based on leaked information. (Photo: Óscar Balderas on X)

The journalists agreed that safety is also critical when working in this kind of coverage. Balderas said field reporting inevitably exposes journalists to the risk of becoming targets of criminal groups. Physical safety precautions should include basic knowledge of vehicle maintenance and first aid, he said.

Digital security is also important, Balderas said, particularly the use of tools that enhance anonymity, such as VPNs and encrypted communications.

He added that journalists should also take care of their mental health so they are better equipped to cope with the emotional strain of covering organized crime and political corruption. That includes building a support network outside journalism and seeking professional counseling when needed, he said.

"If you're going to enter the narcopolitics beat or investigate organized crime, take care of your mental health before problems arise," Balderas said. "Don't wait until you've experienced anxiety or depression when you receive a threat, because threats will come. This is a difficult, high-risk and highly sensitive beat, and I believe acting preemptively when it comes to mental health will help journalists do their work as effectively as possible."

This article was translated with AI assistance and reviewed by Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera