Ruben Rocha Moya, the governor of Sinaloa and a member of Mexico's ruling Morena party, has announced he will step down temporarily following drug trafficking charges filed by the United States. Rocha and nine other Mexican officials, including security officers and politicians, stand accused of having ties to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Rocha protected the Sinaloa Cartel and assisted in smuggling massive quantities of narcotics into the United States. In exchange for this protection, he is accused of receiving millions of dollars in bribes and political support, sparking a national scandal.
Governor Rocha has vehemently denied the allegations and stated he is taking a temporary leave to defend himself while cooperating with Mexican authorities reviewing the U.S. arrest request. Additionally, two other members of President Claudia Sheinbaum's party in Sinaloa state have also stepped down temporarily following the charges.
President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that she has not seen credible evidence against the indicted officials. However, she vowed that Mexican authorities would gather their own information regarding the matter.