Mexican Governor Resigns After US Reveals Ties to Cartel
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, Ruben Rocha Moya, has decided to step down temporarily from his position after his links to the Sinaloa Cartel were exposed by US prosecutors. Just recently, he had denied those allegations and his connections to fentanyl suppliers and perpetrators of violence.
Last Wednesday, US prosecutors charged Rocha, the Sinaloa Cartel, and nine other officials with collusion. The cartel leaders are said to have bribed and provided votes in exchange for legal immunity.
Similar accusations had already been levelled against Rocha by US authorities in 2024. At that time, the US arrested one of the cartel’s founders who claimed he thought he was on his way to meet Rocha.
However, Mexican leaders defended Rocha at the time. Even Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was still president, and president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum supported him.
The accusations have divided society into two camps. Some support punishment for corruption perpetrators, while others are fed up with illegal US intervention.
The public is also awaiting how the Sheinbaum administration will handle the Rocha case this time.
Mexican political analyst Viri Rios defends Sheinbaum’s decision to slow down extradition requests. Holding Rocha and sending him to the US could prompt the Trump administration to indict more officials, ultimately shaking her government.
She added that Sheinbaum must also capitalise on this momentum. Her administration is urged to conduct an investigation into Rocha.
“The Rocha case provides an opportunity for Sheinbaum to show her desire to pursue corrupt politicians,” Rios explained, quoted from the New York Times on Sunday (3/5/2026).
“She has more internal support in Morena to do so than is widely estimated,” she added.
However, according to history, Mexican officials are hesitant to investigate their own members. “We almost never get cooperation from the Mexican government in any investigation efforts, including on public officials,” said former US prosecutor Gina Parlovecchio.