Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya Requests Indefinite Leave Amid U.S. Drug Charges

Embattled Sinaloa, Mexico, Governor Rubén Rocha Moya has requested an indefinite leave of absence shortly after resuming his duties. The leave follows a three-month hiatus due to U.S. drug trafficking charges against him. Rocha shared a letter on social media seeking this extended absence from his gubernatorial role.

The letter, dated August 22 and confirmed by the Sinaloa State Congress on that date, does not specify Rocha’s return date or reasons for stepping away once more. This announcement came a day after he declared his return, asserting his duty to fulfill voters’ mandate until October 31, 2027.

“Today, I return to the exercise of my responsibility as Governor of Sinaloa with a clear conscience and head held high, with the strength of truth on our side,” Rocha stated on his social media account last Friday.

During his three-month absence, Rocha claims he cooperated with Mexican authorities regarding what he described as “false accusations” by the U.S. government. He stated that he appeared before Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office to answer questions related to ongoing investigations.

Rocha insisted on the lack of evidence against him and accused political adversaries domestically and abroad of attempting to undermine both his country’s sovereignty and the left-wing political movement he supports.

“I am unrelated to and innocent of the fabrications woven against me,” Rocha asserted.

His return did not receive support from Mexico’s ruling Morena party or President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government. Morena appeared uninformed of Rocha’s decision and expressed distance from the move, while Mexico’s Interior Ministry emphasized that Rocha’s return was his own decision, noting that the attorney general’s investigation remains ongoing.

President Sheinbaum issued a direct message stating, “No personal interest can ever stand above the interests of the people and the Nation.” She emphasized the need for public servants who recognize that their positions are temporary, yet their duty to the nation endures.

In April, U.S. prosecutors charged Rocha and nine officials with drug trafficking and weapons offenses, accusing them of collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel to transport large amounts of narcotics to the U.S. This development marked the first instance of a sitting Mexican governor facing U.S. charges, according to reports.

Mistrust between the two countries has increased due to the case. Sheinbaum has characterized the charges as foreign interference. Meanwhile, Mexico argues that the U.S. has not provided sufficient evidence for Rocha’s arrest or extradition.