Sinaloa Governor Steps Down Amid US Drug Trafficking Indictment

The governor of Mexico's Sinaloa state, Ruben Rocha Moya, announced on Friday that he will temporarily step down from his position. This decision follows a US indictment unsealed on Wednesday that charges him and nine current or former high-ranking Mexican officials with drug trafficking.

Prosecutors in New York allege that Rocha Moya met with the Chapitos before his 2021 election and promised to appoint officials favorable to their operations if elected. The charges claim cartel members stole ballot boxes and intimidated opponents to secure his victory.

In exchange, the defendants allegedly received millions of dollars and aided in importing fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs into the US while shielding cartel leaders from prosecution.

Local lawmakers approved Rocha Moya's request for a leave of absence on Saturday. They appointed Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde, previously Sinaloa's Secretary of Government, as interim governor. The state Congress must still approve the leave request. In a video message released Friday evening, Rocha Moya rejected the charges and stated that stepping aside would facilitate Mexican authorities' investigation.

Mexico's Attorney General's Office reported on Friday that there was not enough evidence to detain him provisionally for extradition but will request evidence from the US to review the case.

“My conscience is clear, a lifetime of work backs my words.”

Moya won the 2021 election as a candidate for Morena and took office as governor that year. The cartel divided into groups led by the Chapitos and by Ismael Zambada Garcia, known as El Mayo. US authorities previously charged the Chapitos, with two extradited and pleading guilty, while two remain at large in Mexico.

Zambada was charged and brought to the US in 2024, where he pleaded guilty. Zambada had accused Rocha Moya of involvement in his capture, which Rocha Moya denied. Mexico's president stated on Thursday that the government will not protect anyone who committed a crime, but the Attorney General's Office will determine if evidence suffices to proceed.

The president also rejected possible US interventionist actions.

The indictment alleges the officials shielded the cartel from investigation and allowed drug-related violence. Both sources describe the charges as significant, with The Washington Times noting it has shaken the political establishment. The case highlights ongoing US-Mexico tensions over drug trafficking enforcement.

Rocha Moya's step down is temporary, pending further investigation. The Attorney General's Office plans to review US evidence. No contradictions appear between the sources on key facts.