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Ruben Rocha Moya returns to the Sinaloa governorship after a three-month absence following US accusations of organized crime links.

Ruben Rocha Moya returned to his position as the governor of Sinaloa after a three-month absence caused by accusations from the US Department of Justice. The US authorities accused Rocha and several other Morena party officials of receiving protection from the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Chapitos, in exchange for political power in 2021. While Rocha claimed the US accusations were driven by political interests and interference, the Morena party chose to isolate his return as a personal decision rather than a political mandate. The administration announced that the US should provide evidence to the Federal General Prosecutor’s Office to support their claims. Claudia Sheinbaum noted that while the US should provide proof, no personal interest should outweigh the interests of the nation. By separating the legal and political planes, the Morena party aimed to contain the political damage. This strategy allows the local government to maintain a narrative of sovereignty while avoiding a state-level expedition from escalating to the national level.

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